The uncertain location of electrons - George Zaidan and Charles Morton

The tiny atoms that make up our world are made up of even tinier protons, neutrons and electrons. Though the number of protons determines an atom's identity, it's the electrons -- specifically, their exact location outside the nucleus -- that particularly perplex scientists. George Zaidan and Charles Morton show how to make an educated guess of where those itty-bitty freewheeling electrons might be.

 Lesson by George Zaidan and Charles Morton, animation by Karrot Animation.

 

Hewitt-Drew-it! 52. The Periodic Table

Paul discusses some features of the periodic table of the elements.

 

Hewitt-Drew-it! 51. Atoms

Paul cites personal influences in his life and discusses the atomic hypothesis.

 

3 Physics Experiments that Changed the World

Cavendish experiment (gravity), Young double-slit experiment (interference of light) and Rutherford gold foil experiment (atomic nucleus).

Other Sci-Show videos

KEZAKO: What is the difference between phosphorescence and fluorescence?

Kezako is the serie that addresses issues of science in a few minutes. The episode "What is the difference between fluorescence and phosphorescence?" addresses the two apparently different phenomena found with fluorescent markers, stickers, glow-worms or fireflies.

 

Rutherford Scattering - A Classroom Demo

A simple way to demonstrate back-scattering in a classroom. For more information on this and many other demonstrations of physics and astronomy, please visit us at:
http://www.ap.smu.ca/demos

Atoms and orbitals

How quantum physics explains atoms and periodic table.
Copyright Bobroff 2012.
Source: www.toutestquantique.fr

How an atomic clock works, and its use in the global positioning system (GPS)

Bill shows the world's smallest atomic clock and then describes how the first one made in the 1950s worked. He describes in detail the use of cesium vapor to create a feedback or control loop to control a quartz oscillator. He highlights the importance of atomic team by describing briefly how a GPS receiver uses four satellites to find its position.

Other "Engineer Guy" videos

Albert Einstein: The Size and Existence of Atoms

How do we know atoms exist? And just how big are they?

Other Minute Physics videos

Rutherford's big discovery – 100 years later

In 1911 the New-Zealand-born physicist Ernest Rutherford published a paper that was to revolutionize science. Rutherford's famous alpha-particle scattering experiment transformed our understanding of the atom and it inspired the new areas of physics including the theory of quantum mechanics.
The pioneering work was carried out at the University of Manchester where Rutherford held the Chair of Physics for 12 years. To mark the centenary of these landmark experiments, the university hosted a special week-long conference in August 2011. The event was organized by the UK's Institute of Physics.

How Rutherford shaped nuclear physics

2011 was the 100th anniversary of Ernest Rutherford publishing his seminal paper describing the discovery of the atomic nucleus. The New-Zealand-born physicist reached this profound insight after his landmark alpha-particle scattering experiments carried out at the University of Manchester. To mark the centenary, the university hosted a special week-long conference in August, organized by the UK's Institute of Physics.

What is fire?

Fire it up! We explain hot stuff.

Other Minute Physics videos

Atoms and Isotopes

Most people recognize that atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter around us. An atom itself is composed of protons, neutrons and electrons. The simplest atom is the hydrogen atom because it consists of only one proton and one electron. If a neutron is added to the nucleus, the atom is still hydrogen, just a more massive version. Atoms of the same element (i.e. those with the same number of protons) but different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes.

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Electrons - Sixty Symbols

The electron: wave or particle?

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Cathode Rays Lead to Thomson's Model of the Atom

In the mid 1800's scientists successfully passed an electric current through a vacuum in a glass tube. They saw a glow from the tube that seemed to emanate from the negatively charged plate called the cathode. Since scientists didn't know what the glow was they called it a cathode ray. There was debate over whether the cathode ray was a wave phenomenon like light or a stream of negatively charged particles. JJ Thomson effectively resolved the debate in 1897 by performing a clever experiment that determined the charge to mass ratio of the particles making up the cathode ray. He also showed that this same particle was in all different cathode materials so it must be a constituent common to all atoms. This changed our understanding of the atom from the previous billiard ball model to Thomson's plum pudding model of the atom.

Other Veritasium videos

Eureka! Episode 23 - Electrons

Using an animated model of an atom, Eureka! illustrates how electrons whiz so quickly round the nucleus that they appear to form layers.

Other Eureka episodes

JJ Thomson's Plum Pudding Model of the Atom

JJ Thomson proposed the first model of the atom with subatomic structure. He had performed a series of experiments and was credited with the discovery of the first sub-atomic particle, the electron. He therefore proposed a new model of the atom called the plum pudding model. In this model, the plums represent negatively charged electrons which can be plucked out of the atom, leaving behind some positively charged pudding. In this film, cherry tart is used as a delicious substitute for plum pudding.

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Eureka! Episode 22 - Atoms

This program explains that molecules are made up of atoms. In pure metals, all the atoms are arranged separately in a lattice-work pattern, but in most non-metals, liquids, and gases, the atoms are bunched together into molecules.

Other Eureka episodes

Fine Structure Constant - Sixty Symbols

Professor Laurence Eaves explains why 137 is a magic number, both for thieves and alien hunters.

Other Sixty Symbols videos

Atomic Theory

This is the first Veritasium science video. It addresses one of the most fundamental concepts in science: the idea that all things are made of atoms, tiny particles that are in perpetual motion. They attract each other when a little distance apart and repel when squeezed together.

Other Veritasium videos