What was Ernst Chladni known for?

Ernst Chladni is known for his discovery of Chladni figures, which are visual patterns created by sand or powder on vibrating surfaces, illustrating sound waves and resonance. He also made significant contributions to acoustics and musical instrument design.

Where did Ernst Chladni study?

Ernst Chladni studied at Leipzig University and the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, where he conducted research in physics and mathematics.

What instruments did Ernst Chladni design?

Ernst Chladni designed and improved musical instruments, including the Chladni violin, which enhanced the clarity of sound through structural modifications.

What was the significance of Chladni figures?

Chladni figures provided a visual representation of sound waves and resonance, helping scientists and musicians understand the mechanics of vibration and sound propagation.

How did Ernst Chladni contribute to acoustics?

Ernst Chladni conducted experiments to study the relationship between sound and vibration, contributing to the understanding of wave mechanics and resonance.

Ernst Chladni

German physicist, mathematician and musician (1756 – 1827)

Person human Q213579

Ernst Chladni — Ludwig Albert von Montmorillon · Public Domain · Wikimedia

Facts

27 properties

Instance of: human
Sex or gender: male^[28]
Date of birth: November 30, 1756
Date of death: April 3, 1827
Place of birth: Lutherstadt Wittenberg
Place of death: Wrocław
Country of citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia^[12]
Occupation: physicist, astronomer, mathematician, musician, geologist, measuring instrument maker, university teacher, jurist, philosopher^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]
Employer: Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences^[18]
Field of work: physics^[17]
Educated at: Leipzig University, Gymnasium St. Augustin^[19]^[20]
Father: Ernst Martin Chladni^[11]
Work location: Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Leipzig^[31]^[32]
Languages spoken, written or signed: German^[45]
Described by source: Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Riemann's Music Dictionary, Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, Life and work of E.F.F. Chladni, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4th edition (1885–1890), Physicists: Biographical Dictionary, Astronomers: A Biographical Reference, BEIC Digital Library, Neue Deutsche Biographie^[33]^[34]^[35]^[36]^[37]^[38]^[39]^[40]^[41]^[42]^[43]^[44]
Family name: Chladni^[29]
Given name: Ernst^[30]
Maintained by WikiProject: WikiProject Mathematics
Member of: Academy of Science for Public Utility, Russian Academy of Sciences, Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Academy of Sciences of Turin, Ludlamshöhle, Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]
On focus list of Wikimedia project: WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/Smithsonian Libraries Dibner Library portraits
P14536: 388160
P14541: 4KVgRP
P14585: 36355
P14608: 118520490

Show all 27 facts +3

P14977: RETE020567
Place of burial: Wrocław^[10]
Writing language: German

🏷️ Also known as

en Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni en Ernst Chladni en Friedrich Chladni ar إيرنست فلورنس فريدرخ كلادني ar إيرنست كلادني cs Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladny cs Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni cs Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladen cs Ernestus Florens Fridericus Chladenius de Ernst Chladni de Monocord der Tongrübler el Ερνστ Κλάντνι es Ernst Florenz Friedrich Chladni fa ارنست کلادنی fi Ernst Chladni he ארנסט קלאדני it Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni it Chladni ja アーネスト・クラドニ ja エルネスト・クラドニ

🔖 Identifiers · 79

ISNI: 0000000081305658
VIAF cluster ID: 51846690
Library of Congress authority ID: n84208638
GND ID: 118520490
Academic Tree ID: 82008
Accademia delle Scienze di Torino ID: ernst-chladni
Alvin ID: alvin-person:11790
BIBSYS ID: 90501023
Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 13516840j
Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers ID: 276
Brockhaus Enzyklopädie online ID: chladni-ernst-florens-friedrich
CANTIC ID: 981061020449706706

Show all 79 identifiers +67

CERL Thesaurus ID: cnp01367925
Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf11720594
Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Gesamtausgabe ID: A002301
CiNii Research ID: 1140000791670767616
DBC author ID: 87097946748743
DDB person (GND) ID: 118520490
Deutsche Biographie (GND) ID: 118520490
Edition humboldt digital ID: H0013050
Enciclopedia Galega Universal ID: 99831
Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID: 119245
Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID: biography/Ernst-Florens-Friedrich-Chladni
FAST ID: 146321
Freebase ID: /m/01hx8y
Geni.com profile ID: 6000000036577337039
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: ernst-chladni
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID (former scheme): 0017619
Gran Enciclopèdia de la Música ID: 16649
Great Norwegian Encyclopedia ID: Ernst_Florens_Friedrich_Chladni, Ernst_Chladni
Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017): 4694198
Grove Music Online ID: 05636
Hrvatska enciklopedija ID: 11659
IdRef ID: 035134526
KBR person ID: 14424796
Kalliope-Verbund (GND) ID: 118520490
Kallías ID: PE00381375
Lex ID: Ernst_Florens_Friedrich_Chladni
Libris-URI: pm149fv74s56mfs
Lur Encyclopedic Dictionary ID: 01380/eu_ch_0258/ch0258
MR Author ID: 325011
Museum-digital ID: 38563
NACSIS-CAT author ID: DA05271683
NE.se ID: ernst-chladni
NL CR AUT ID: mzk2009510750
NLP ID: a0000003095417
NUKAT ID: n96019293
National Library of Ireland ID: vtls001290359
National Library of Korea ID: KAC202253187
National Library of Lithuania ID: LNB:DJCS;=BA
National Library of Poland MMS ID: 9810647524605606
National Library of Spain SpMaBN ID (BNE v1.0): XX1632728
Nationale Thesaurus voor Auteursnamen ID: 099249073
Obálky knih ID: mzk2009510750
Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3885383
Open Library ID: OL1132395A
Oxford Reference overview ID: 20110803095608988
Polish Music Library PBM ID: chladni
Proleksis enciklopedija ID: 15227
RERO ID (legacy): A003103282
RILM ID: 26672
RISM ID: people/30052580
SBN author ID: MUSV015998, TO0V422259
SELIBR ID: 329977
SNAC ARK ID: w64x8dc9
Slovak National Library (VIAF) ID: vtls008337151
Symogih.org ID: Actr54202
Sächsische Biografie (GND) ID: 997
The Oxford Dictionary of Music entry ID: 1839
Vatican Library ID (former scheme): ADV10016949
Vatican Library VcBA ID: 495/165290
Virtual Laboratory person ID: 487
Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija ID: ernst-florens-friedrich-chladni
Wellcome Collection concept ID: esmevykh
WikiTree person ID: Chladni-1
WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJmXPfd3Ddkd8TdyDDhWDq
Yale LUX ID: person/d1770084-16aa-46b3-b0d2-020e92e7da4d
ZOBODAT person ID: 108331
ZbMATH author ID: chladni.ernst-f-f

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🔗 Connections

Member of 6

Russian Academy of Sciences, Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony, Academy of Sciences of Turin, Academy of Science for Public Utility

Occupation 5

mathematician, musician, astronomer, physicist, geologist

Described by source 4

Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, BEIC Digital Library

Named after 2

Chladni, Chladni figures

Work location 2

Leipzig, Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Country of citizenship 1

Kingdom of Prussia

Educated at 1

Leipzig University

Employer 1

Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences

Field of work 1

physics

Given name 1

Ernst

Instance of 1

human

Languages spoken, written or signed 1

German

Maintained by WikiProject 1

WikiProject Mathematics

Place of birth 1

Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Place of burial 1

Wrocław

Place of death 1

Wrocław

Sex or gender 1

male

Writing language 1

German

← FactGrid item ID 1

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Summary

Ernst Chladni was born on November 30, 1756^[1], in Lutherstadt Wittenberg^[2]. He died on April 3, 1827^[3], in Wrocław^[4]. He worked as a physicist^[5], astronomer^[6], mathematician^[7], musician^[8], and geologist^[9].

Body

Works and Contributions

Things named for Ernst Chladni include Chladni figures^[46] and Chladni^[47], a lunar crater^[48].

Why It Matters

Entities named for Ernst Chladni include Chladni figures^[46] and Chladni^[47], a lunar crater^[48].

FAQs

Where was Ernst Chladni born?

Ernst Chladni's place of birth was Lutherstadt Wittenberg^[2].

Where did Ernst Chladni die?

Ernst Chladni died in Wrocław^[4].

Who were Ernst Chladni's parents?

Ernst Chladni's father was Ernst Martin Chladni^[11].

What did Ernst Chladni do for work?

Ernst Chladni worked as a physicist^[5], astronomer^[6], mathematician^[7], musician^[8], and geologist^[9].

Where did Ernst Chladni go to school?

Ernst Chladni was educated at Leipzig University^[19] and Gymnasium St. Augustin^[20].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

[2] ↑ Ernst Chladni — place of birth (P19): Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-12-11. wikidata.org.
[4] ↑ Ernst Chladni — place of death (P20): Wrocław. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-12-31. wikidata.org.
[28] ↑ Ernst Chladni — sex or gender (P21): male. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.
[11] ↑ Ernst Chladni — father (P22): Ernst Martin Chladni. wikidata.org.
[12] ↑ Ernst Chladni — country of citizenship (P27): Kingdom of Prussia. wikidata.org.
[19] ↑ Ernst Chladni — educated at (P69): Leipzig University. wikidata.org.
[20] ↑ Ernst Chladni — educated at (P69): Gymnasium St. Augustin. wikidata.org.
[17] ↑ Ernst Chladni — field of work (P101): physics. wikidata.org.
[5] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): physicist. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2015-06-25. wikidata.org.
[6] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): astronomer. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2015-06-25. wikidata.org.
[7] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): mathematician. wikidata.org.
[8] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): musician. Retrieved 2019-06-20. wikidata.org.
[9] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): geologist. Retrieved 2019-06-20. wikidata.org.
[13] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): measuring instrument maker. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[14] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): university teacher. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[15] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): jurist. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[16] ↑ Ernst Chladni — occupation (P106): philosopher. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[18] ↑ Ernst Chladni — employer (P108): Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. wikidata.org.
[10] ↑ Ernst Chladni — place of burial (P119): Wrocław. wikidata.org.
[21] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Academy of Science for Public Utility. wikidata.org.
[22] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Russian Academy of Sciences. wikidata.org.
[23] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences. wikidata.org.
[24] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. wikidata.org.
[25] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Academy of Sciences of Turin. www.accademiadellescienze.it. Retrieved 2020-12-01. wikidata.org.
[26] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Ludlamshöhle. Floegels Geschichte des Grotesk-Komischen. wikidata.org.
[27] ↑ Ernst Chladni — member of (P463): Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. wikidata.org.
[1] ↑ Ernst Chladni — date of birth (P569): November 30, 1756. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-04-27. wikidata.org.
[3] ↑ Ernst Chladni — date of death (P570): April 3, 1827. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-04-27. wikidata.org.
[29] ↑ Ernst Chladni — family name (P734): Chladni. wikidata.org.
[30] ↑ Ernst Chladni — given name (P735): Ernst. International Standard Name Identifier. Retrieved 2015-10-15. wikidata.org.
[31] ↑ Ernst Chladni — work location (P937): Lutherstadt Wittenberg. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2015-03-31. wikidata.org.
[32] ↑ Ernst Chladni — work location (P937): Leipzig. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2015-03-31. wikidata.org.
[33] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978). wikidata.org.
[34] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. wikidata.org.
[35] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary. wikidata.org.
[36] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Riemann's Music Dictionary. wikidata.org.
[37] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. wikidata.org.
[38] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Life and work of E.F.F. Chladni. wikidata.org.
[39] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): The Nuttall Encyclopædia. wikidata.org.
[40] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4th edition (1885–1890). wikidata.org.
[41] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Physicists: Biographical Dictionary. wikidata.org.
[42] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Astronomers: A Biographical Reference. wikidata.org.
[43] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): BEIC Digital Library. catalogue.beic.it. catalogue.beic.it. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[44] ↑ Ernst Chladni — described by source (P1343): Neue Deutsche Biographie. Deutsche Biographie. Retrieved 2026-11-02. wikidata.org.
[45] ↑ Ernst Chladni — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): German. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

Inline context (facts about related entities)

[48] ↑ Chladni — P31: lunar crater. Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

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@misc{4ortxyz_ernst-chladni_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Ernst Chladni}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/ernst-chladni}, note = {Accessed: 2026-11-03}}

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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

14h ago · Bug002 · 2026-11-03 view diff on Wikidata ↗

P14977 → RETE020567

Claims rich → —

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1d ago · Printstream · 2026-11-02 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Described by source → Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978), Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary +9

Claims rich → —

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15d ago · Bargioni · 2026-10-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Claims rich → —

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17d ago · OKA bot bot · 2026-10-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗

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27d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-10-07 view diff on Wikidata ↗

SBN author ID → MUSV015998, TO0V422259

Wikipedia languages → ['an', 'ar', 'arz', 'azb', 'ca', 'commons', 'cs', 'da', 'de', 'el', 'en', 'eo',

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Claims rich → —

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6w ago · Printstream · 2026-09-23 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Sächsische Biografie (GND) ID → 997

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7w ago · Printstream · 2026-09-11 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Sächsische Biografie (GND) ID → 997

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16w ago · Nyuhn · 2026-07-10 view diff on Wikidata ↗

P14541 → 4KVgRP

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17w ago · Printstream · 2026-07-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗

P14608 → 118520490

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17w ago · Printstream · 2026-07-01 view diff on Wikidata ↗

P14585 → 36355

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18w ago · Printstream · 2026-06-25 view diff on Wikidata ↗

P14536 → 388160

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24w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Occupation → physicist, astronomer, mathematician +6

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24w ago · Sj1mor · 2026-05-15 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Plaque image → Gedenktafel Mittelstr 5 (Wittenberg) Ernst Florens Friedrich

"/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Plaque image: Gedenktafel Mittelstr 5 (Wittenberg) Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni.jpg"
25w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-12 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Occupation → physicist, astronomer, mathematician +6

Field of work → physics

Member of → Academy of Science for Public Utility, Russian Academy of Sciences, Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences +4

Languages spoken, written or signed → German

+ 26 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)

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