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Dutch Physicist Johannes van der Waals wins the Nobel Prize for physics

The Nobel Prize in Physics (Swedish: Nobelpriset i fysik) is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists who have made outstanding contributions in Physics.

The Nobel Prize in Physics (Swedish: Nobelpriset i fysik) is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists who have made outstanding contributions in Physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes which were established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895.

Every year, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences sends out forms, which amount to a personal and exclusive invitation, to about three thousand selected individuals to invite them to submit nominations. The names of the nominees are never publicly announced, and neither are they told that they have been considered for the Prize. Nomination records are strictly sealed for fifty years. As of 2025, the nominations for the years 1901 to 1974 are publicly available.

Historical Significance

The Nobel Prize in Physics (Swedish: Nobelpriset i fysik) is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists who have made outstanding contributions in Physics.

Key People

Johannes van der Waals

theoretical physicist

Dutch theoretical physicist

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Events Before

  1. American Robert Fowler runs the then-world-record marathon (2:52:45.4) at Yonkers, New York

    American Robert Fowler runs the then-world-record marathon (2:52:45.4) at Yonkers, New York

  2. Stepan Bandera is born

    Stepan Bandera, Greek ukrainian nationalist leader, known for ukrainian nationalist leader, was born on 1909-01-01.

  3. Ernest Shackleton, as part of the British Nimrod Expedition, reaches a record farthest southern latitude of 88°23' south

    Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic.

  4. Russian military forces invade northern Persia to support Mohammad Ali Shah's coup d'état against the constitutional gov

    Russian military forces invade northern Persia to support Mohammad Ali Shah's coup d'état against the constitutional government in Persia and relieve the siege of Tabriz

  5. Mien Wenneker, Dutch prince Henry's lover, weds Uncle Cornelis Abbo

    Mien Wenneker, Dutch prince Henry's lover, weds Uncle Cornelis Abbo

Events After

  1. Hank Greenberg is born

    Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

  2. Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

    Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

  3. British PM Neville Chamberlain (41) weds Anne de Vere Cole

    British PM Neville Chamberlain (41) weds Anne de Vere Cole

  4. American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

    American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

  5. Actress Mae West (17) weds fellow vaudevillian Frank Wallace (21) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Actress Mae West (17) weds fellow vaudevillian Frank Wallace (21) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

More from the 1910s

birth

Hank Greenberg is born

Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

The US Post Office begins parcel post delivery

The Bronx General Post Office (also known as the Bronx Central Post Office or Bronx Central Annex) is a historic post office building at 558 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx in New York City, New…

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 10, 1910?
The Nobel Prize in Physics (Swedish: Nobelpriset i fysik) is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists who have made outstanding contributions in Physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes which were established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895. Every year, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences sends out forms, which amount to a personal and exclusive invitation, to about three thousand selected individuals to invite them to submit nominations.
Why is Dutch Physicist Johannes van der Waals wins the Nobel Prize for physics significant?
The Nobel Prize in Physics (Swedish: Nobelpriset i fysik) is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists who have made outstanding contributions in Physics.
Who was involved in Dutch Physicist Johannes van der Waals wins the Nobel Prize for physics?
Key figures include Johannes van der Waals (theoretical physicist).

Explore More

December 10 in HistoryYear 1910