Mottelson mụrụ na Chicago, Illinois, nwa nke Georgia (Blum) na Goodman Mottelson, onye injinia. Ọ gụsịrị akwụkwọ na Lyons Township High School na LaGrange, Illinois. O nwetara akara ugo mmụta bachelọ na Mahadum Purdue na 1947, na Ph.D. na physics nuklia na Mahadum Harvard na 1950. Ajụjụ: Mgbe o si Purdue gụchaa akwụkwọ?
Afọ 1947