1804-1865

Russian physicist who discovered the relationship between electrical resistance and temperature (also called Joule's Law) and first stated the law describing electrical inductance. Lenz began studying theology at Dorpat University, though shifted to chemistry and physics. He became a professor of physics at the St. Petersburg Academy of Science and was later named Dean of Mathematics and Physics. Lenz's work in electrical theory, especially his work on the effects of temperature on electrical resistance, were important in understanding electrical phenomena.