The Balmer Formula

Leading up to the Formula: 1869 - 1882 In the years after the work of Kirchhoff and Bunsen, the major goal in spectroscopy was to determine the quantitative relationships between the lines in the spectrum of a given element as well as relationships between lines of different substances. For example, George Johnstone Stoney in 1869 speculated that spectra arose from the internal motions of molecules. However, his mathematical theory was...

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The Bohr Model of the Atom

On June 19, 1912, Niels Bohr wrote to his brother Harald: "Perhaps I have found out a little about the structure of atoms." I. Setting the Stage The Bohr model of the atom deals specifically with the behavior of electrons in the atom. In constructing his model, Bohr was presented with several problems. Problem #1: charged electrons moving in an orbit around the nucleus SHOULD radiate energy due to the acceleration of the electron...

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Expanding Universe

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