# Joseph Plateau

> Belgian physicist (1801–1883)

**Wikidata**: [Q379993](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379993)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Plateau)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/joseph-plateau

## Summary
Joseph Plateau was a Belgian physicist and mathematician best known for his pioneering work on visual perception and the physics of surfaces. He is credited with inventing the phénakistoscope, an early animation device, and formulating Plateau's laws, which describe the structure of soap films.

## Biography
- **Born:** 1801 (Belgium)
- **Nationality:** Belgian
- **Education:** Affiliated with Ghent University and the University of Liège
- **Known for:** Inventing the phénakistoscope, formulating Plateau's laws, and contributions to theoretical physics
- **Employer(s):** Ghent University, University of Liège, Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts - École supérieure des Arts de la Ville de Bruxelles
- **Field(s):** Physics, Mathematics, Theoretical Physics

## Contributions
Joseph Plateau made significant contributions to both physics and the field of visual perception. His most notable inventions and discoveries include:
- **Phénakistoscope (1832):** The first widespread animation device that created a fluid illusion of motion, laying the foundation for modern cinema.
- **Plateau's Laws:** A set of mathematical rules governing the structure of soap films, which have applications in various scientific fields.
- **Plateau's Problem:** A problem in the calculus of variations concerning the existence of minimal surfaces with given boundaries.
- **Stroboscope:** An instrument used to make cyclically moving objects appear slow-moving or stationary, which has applications in various scientific and industrial fields.
- **Plateau–Rayleigh Instability:** A phenomenon describing the breakup of a falling stream of fluid, which has significant implications in fluid dynamics.

## FAQs
**What is Joseph Plateau best known for?**
Joseph Plateau is best known for inventing the phénakistoscope, an early animation device, and for his work on the physics of surfaces, particularly Plateau's laws.

**Where did Joseph Plateau work?**
Joseph Plateau was affiliated with several institutions, including Ghent University, the University of Liège, and the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

**What are Plateau's laws?**
Plateau's laws are a set of mathematical rules that describe the structure of soap films. These laws have applications in various scientific fields, including physics and mathematics.

**What is the Plateau–Rayleigh instability?**
The Plateau–Rayleigh instability is a phenomenon in fluid dynamics that describes the breakup of a falling stream of fluid. This discovery has significant implications in the study of fluid behavior.

## Why They Matter
Joseph Plateau's work has had a lasting impact on both physics and the field of visual perception. His invention of the phénakistoscope laid the groundwork for modern animation and cinema, while his contributions to the physics of surfaces, such as Plateau's laws and the Plateau–Rayleigh instability, have influenced various scientific disciplines. His work continues to be studied and applied in contemporary research.

## Notable For
- Inventing the phénakistoscope, the first widespread animation device.
- Formulating Plateau's laws, which describe the structure of soap films.
- Contributing to the understanding of fluid dynamics through the Plateau–Rayleigh instability.
- Being affiliated with prestigious institutions such as Ghent University and the University of Liège.
- Making significant contributions to theoretical physics and mathematics.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Joseph Plateau was born in 1801 in Belgium. He was affiliated with Ghent University and the University of Liège, where he likely received his education and conducted much of his research.

### Career and Affiliations
Plateau was a university teacher and researcher, affiliated with several prestigious institutions. He worked at Ghent University, the University of Liège, and the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. His work spanned various fields, including physics, mathematics, and theoretical physics.

### Inventions and Discoveries
One of Plateau's most significant contributions was the invention of the phénakistoscope in 1832. This device was the first widespread animation tool that created a fluid illusion of motion, laying the foundation for modern cinema. Additionally, Plateau formulated Plateau's laws, which describe the structure of soap films and have applications in various scientific fields. He also contributed to the understanding of fluid dynamics through the Plateau–Rayleigh instability, which describes the breakup of a falling stream of fluid.

### Theoretical Physics and Mathematics
Plateau's work in theoretical physics and mathematics is notable. He formulated Plateau's problem, which is concerned with the existence of minimal surfaces with given boundaries. This problem has significant implications in the calculus of variations and has been studied extensively in mathematical physics.

### Legacy and Impact
Joseph Plateau's work has had a lasting impact on both physics and the field of visual perception. His invention of the phénakistoscope laid the groundwork for modern animation and cinema, while his contributions to the physics of surfaces, such as Plateau's laws and the Plateau–Rayleigh instability, have influenced various scientific disciplines. His work continues to be studied and applied in contemporary research, making him a significant figure in the history of science.

## References

1. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. [Source](https://www.vaticanobservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Joseph-Plateau-PiP-Excerpt.pdf)
5. Ghent University
6. [Nederlandse jubileumpostzegel uitgegeven ter promotie van het toerisme (Holland Promotion), 1997](https://n2t.net/ark:/33862/collect/727514)
7. Complete List of Royal Society Fellows 1660-2007
8. Mathematics Genealogy Project
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. Biographie Nationale de Belgique
12. KNAW Past Members
13. Croatian Encyclopedia
14. UGentMemorialis
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2319297)
17. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Plateau%20Joseph%20Antoine%20Ferdinand)
18. CERL Thesaurus
19. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
20. Enciclopedia Treccani