A. F. B. van der Waals (scientist)

A. F. B. van der Waals was a Dutch physicist and scientist known for his work on the forces between molecules. He developed the van der Waals equation, which improves the ideal gas law by considering molecular size and the attraction between molecules. This work helps explain why gases liquefy and how real substances behave under different conditions. Van der Waals' research was crucial for understanding liquids, gases, and the behavior of materials at a microscopic level, laying groundwork for fields like thermodynamics and physical chemistry. His contributions earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1910.