Spectroscopy Transformed Astronomy, Chemistry & Physics
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Date: 2022-12-27
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Comments and reviews: 20
James
This is a good introduction to a topic still not correctly dealt with in current astronomical literature.
Especially when considering the shapes of fast rotating stars.
We get splits in spectral lines from electric fields and magnetic fields. We get Doppler shifts in spectral lines with everything from a star orbiting a companion, to a star growing and shrinking (radial velocity pulsations. Then a smearing of lines, due to everything from rotation, to updrafts and downdrafts, etc.
Yet, its amazing how much we assume we can get from looking at the spectral lines of a distant object like a star. For example, we know that the sun is amazingly spherical, and not flattened as much as we think it should be by its rotation. Yet when we view a distant star, and get that it is flattened into an oblate spheroid, we get that mostly from the spectral lines, and not that we can visually observe how flattened the star is. You see the mess of assumptions already here.
Also interesting, is if you look at the work on radial velocity oscillations of K giants, you see that they are finding these apparent radial velocity changes are not due to a star orbiting a companion, but perhaps intrinsic to the star. So why is that? Thats something to work out first maybe, before we say with confidence everything else we think we get from this data.
Ill go out on a limb, and predict that just as the sun is more spheroidal than it should be, given its rotation, so are especially the hot blue stars we see nearly flattened by rotation. Its important to know just how many things affect the spectral lines, before we go to mapping out star shapes with just that information.
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This is a good introduction to a topic still not correctly dealt with in current astronomical literature.
Especially when considering the shapes of fast rotating stars.
We get splits in spectral lines from electric fields and magnetic fields. We get Doppler shifts in spectral lines with everything from a star orbiting a companion, to a star growing and shrinking (radial velocity pulsations. Then a smearing of lines, due to everything from rotation, to updrafts and downdrafts, etc.
Yet, its amazing how much we assume we can get from looking at the spectral lines of a distant object like a star. For example, we know that the sun is amazingly spherical, and not flattened as much as we think it should be by its rotation. Yet when we view a distant star, and get that it is flattened into an oblate spheroid, we get that mostly from the spectral lines, and not that we can visually observe how flattened the star is. You see the mess of assumptions already here.
Also interesting, is if you look at the work on radial velocity oscillations of K giants, you see that they are finding these apparent radial velocity changes are not due to a star orbiting a companion, but perhaps intrinsic to the star. So why is that? Thats something to work out first maybe, before we say with confidence everything else we think we get from this data.
Ill go out on a limb, and predict that just as the sun is more spheroidal than it should be, given its rotation, so are especially the hot blue stars we see nearly flattened by rotation. Its important to know just how many things affect the spectral lines, before we go to mapping out star shapes with just that information.
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jafinch78
YT algorithm selected this video and I didn't realize I never finished watching. Great videos as always. Thanks for sharing! Makes me want to work on the two $12 2K webcam spectrometers where I've only scavenged my parts, i. e. HD actuators, apple (seems best) laptop cd/dvd drive sleds, razor blades, some diffraction gratings (student, CD, DVD, (still need BluRay & finer line bought, polarizing lenses & variable polarizing lens and other filters for SLR camera's, various MCU's, some pipe & other options for optical train case materials. though recently found per Tech Ingredients that the RustOleum Black Camo spray paint is a cost effective flat black so might invest in a can or two. Uhg. and I'm up to 16 sewing machines rescued for the month with not enough time. :-\ That's not even getting to work on the sample presentation methods. yet. though I have some. Plus I want to do some other design more like J. C. Bose since get's me thinking about his apparatus albeit different dielectric properties materials and detector(s. Thanks again!
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YT algorithm selected this video and I didn't realize I never finished watching. Great videos as always. Thanks for sharing! Makes me want to work on the two $12 2K webcam spectrometers where I've only scavenged my parts, i. e. HD actuators, apple (seems best) laptop cd/dvd drive sleds, razor blades, some diffraction gratings (student, CD, DVD, (still need BluRay & finer line bought, polarizing lenses & variable polarizing lens and other filters for SLR camera's, various MCU's, some pipe & other options for optical train case materials. though recently found per Tech Ingredients that the RustOleum Black Camo spray paint is a cost effective flat black so might invest in a can or two. Uhg. and I'm up to 16 sewing machines rescued for the month with not enough time. :-\ That's not even getting to work on the sample presentation methods. yet. though I have some. Plus I want to do some other design more like J. C. Bose since get's me thinking about his apparatus albeit different dielectric properties materials and detector(s. Thanks again!
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Clarence
Thanks! This video brought back memories from when I was an undergrad back in the mid '60's, working as a dust-rag boy in the physics department. A new 1. 5 m spectrograph had just arrived and I got to set it up and do the initial calibration.
After doing a number of sprectra of various elements, I set out to observe Fraunhofer lines. Problem was how to get sunlight into the small basement lab. I used five large WW2 surplus mirrors to reflect the light from the parking lot, down the hall, into the lab, etc, and onto the entrance slit of the spectrograph. It worked! Those were fun times and I was so fortunate to have to work for a part of my tuition!
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Thanks! This video brought back memories from when I was an undergrad back in the mid '60's, working as a dust-rag boy in the physics department. A new 1. 5 m spectrograph had just arrived and I got to set it up and do the initial calibration.
After doing a number of sprectra of various elements, I set out to observe Fraunhofer lines. Problem was how to get sunlight into the small basement lab. I used five large WW2 surplus mirrors to reflect the light from the parking lot, down the hall, into the lab, etc, and onto the entrance slit of the spectrograph. It worked! Those were fun times and I was so fortunate to have to work for a part of my tuition!
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BuickDoc
Chemist Here. Three types of spectroscopy revolutionized Organic Chemistry in the 1960's: IR and NMR spectroscopy and High resolution Mass Spectrometry, coupled with the new techniques of GL Chromatography, column chromatography, and other types of chromatography.
Prior to that time, the limits of synthesis and analysis had been reached. The expense and time invested for the synthesis and characterization of any new compounds was not worth the investment. Now I could run a reaction, separate the products and determine the structures in one or two days rather than months.
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Chemist Here. Three types of spectroscopy revolutionized Organic Chemistry in the 1960's: IR and NMR spectroscopy and High resolution Mass Spectrometry, coupled with the new techniques of GL Chromatography, column chromatography, and other types of chromatography.
Prior to that time, the limits of synthesis and analysis had been reached. The expense and time invested for the synthesis and characterization of any new compounds was not worth the investment. Now I could run a reaction, separate the products and determine the structures in one or two days rather than months.
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Joe-e
Hi again! I love hearing trivial tidbits that never made it into my normal education about these people and their subject matters. I don't think I ever knew about AGB's deaf wife, and I never knew about how Bunsen was tragically absent-minded.
I like hearing about how the people and the discoveries they were making were influencing others outside of their own fields.
I read a long time ago in (I think) an ASME publication (mid 80s to mid 90s) about how it was largely due to mechanical engineering design advances that hard drives became smaller and faster.
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Hi again! I love hearing trivial tidbits that never made it into my normal education about these people and their subject matters. I don't think I ever knew about AGB's deaf wife, and I never knew about how Bunsen was tragically absent-minded.
I like hearing about how the people and the discoveries they were making were influencing others outside of their own fields.
I read a long time ago in (I think) an ASME publication (mid 80s to mid 90s) about how it was largely due to mechanical engineering design advances that hard drives became smaller and faster.
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alexander
Thank you for your excellent videos. The history shows us the abolished alternatives on the way to a right guess, and it makes the scientific process alive. Otherwise you have somehow to believe in the chosen established model, the long work of searching is essential. Is there a parallel attempt to show the development of mathematical physics in the like manner (for example for Oliver Heaviside and his vector calculus, that you mentioned? It would be revealing. Could you try it? Thank you.
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Thank you for your excellent videos. The history shows us the abolished alternatives on the way to a right guess, and it makes the scientific process alive. Otherwise you have somehow to believe in the chosen established model, the long work of searching is essential. Is there a parallel attempt to show the development of mathematical physics in the like manner (for example for Oliver Heaviside and his vector calculus, that you mentioned? It would be revealing. Could you try it? Thank you.
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Gary
I worked in a government laboratory connected to a museum which eventually closed down. As equipment became obsolete it was put into storage and forgotten. When the museum was closed I had the job of recovering the collections and other items. This included the obsolete instruments, several of which were beautifully made ones from Victorian era instrument makers. This include an old spectrograph virtually identical to the Bunsen and Kirchkoff instrument shown in your video
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I worked in a government laboratory connected to a museum which eventually closed down. As equipment became obsolete it was put into storage and forgotten. When the museum was closed I had the job of recovering the collections and other items. This included the obsolete instruments, several of which were beautifully made ones from Victorian era instrument makers. This include an old spectrograph virtually identical to the Bunsen and Kirchkoff instrument shown in your video
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Sudarshan
What can be said in 1961worked in a lab using Bunsen burner in chemistry lab but never bothered who that name was. Today knowing that how and what he has developed has transformed entire cooking systems in every home and saving environment and eyes of ladies from the fuel wood smoke is how science benefits HUMANITY in UNKNOWN ways. Thanks for your study and comprehensive approach in the field of science in general and physics particularly.
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What can be said in 1961worked in a lab using Bunsen burner in chemistry lab but never bothered who that name was. Today knowing that how and what he has developed has transformed entire cooking systems in every home and saving environment and eyes of ladies from the fuel wood smoke is how science benefits HUMANITY in UNKNOWN ways. Thanks for your study and comprehensive approach in the field of science in general and physics particularly.
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Paublus
Kathy: So you say the sun has the gold equivalent of like the ocean here full of gold. So the question is say, what percentage of gold does the sun have? Now I know it is not the percentage say the earth has because most of the hydrogen and helium fell down into the sun but say Jupiter, how much heavy metal does the small rocky planet core have as in relation to the earth? I would like to see how much an asteroid like Spychi has?
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Kathy: So you say the sun has the gold equivalent of like the ocean here full of gold. So the question is say, what percentage of gold does the sun have? Now I know it is not the percentage say the earth has because most of the hydrogen and helium fell down into the sun but say Jupiter, how much heavy metal does the small rocky planet core have as in relation to the earth? I would like to see how much an asteroid like Spychi has?
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Phillip
The theory of the type of light by wavelength is the principal that for at least 3 decades was the only way we had in the medical laboratory(i. e flame photometry) of determining the level of an element in our bodies i. e. sodium or as is necessary for smooth muscle movement, potassium. Even today a component of some psychiatric medications, lithium is accurately determined by the use on that kind of analyzer.
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The theory of the type of light by wavelength is the principal that for at least 3 decades was the only way we had in the medical laboratory(i. e flame photometry) of determining the level of an element in our bodies i. e. sodium or as is necessary for smooth muscle movement, potassium. Even today a component of some psychiatric medications, lithium is accurately determined by the use on that kind of analyzer.
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Gnarf
What an extraordinary story about such a simple invention.
It would have been possible to observe these lines in the Middle Ages, when glass manufacturing would have permitted the prism. What knowledge is within our grasp today that we are unaware of?
Spectroscopy also contributed to the Big Bang theory: Edwin Hubble saw that distant galaxies were moving away because the spectra were red-shifted.
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What an extraordinary story about such a simple invention.
It would have been possible to observe these lines in the Middle Ages, when glass manufacturing would have permitted the prism. What knowledge is within our grasp today that we are unaware of?
Spectroscopy also contributed to the Big Bang theory: Edwin Hubble saw that distant galaxies were moving away because the spectra were red-shifted.
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xkguy
Kirchhoff's Law has been studied in detail by Pierre Marie Robitaille. He is a spectroscopist by training but also developed the first 8 Tesla MRI. He insists Kirchhoff erred in stating his law and that not all cavities produce black body radiation.
This had led him to many other interesting conclusions not only about black body radiation but about the sun as well.
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Kirchhoff's Law has been studied in detail by Pierre Marie Robitaille. He is a spectroscopist by training but also developed the first 8 Tesla MRI. He insists Kirchhoff erred in stating his law and that not all cavities produce black body radiation.
This had led him to many other interesting conclusions not only about black body radiation but about the sun as well.
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education
Thank you so much for the video. My mind was blown away after knowing that each element have their own optical fingerprint.
And with this, we are able to learn abit more about the Sun. Amazing.
I always thought life was boring, but turns out, i was soo wrong.
Its been a long time since i was this excited. Thank you again. You saved me.
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Thank you so much for the video. My mind was blown away after knowing that each element have their own optical fingerprint.
And with this, we are able to learn abit more about the Sun. Amazing.
I always thought life was boring, but turns out, i was soo wrong.
Its been a long time since i was this excited. Thank you again. You saved me.
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John
The 2nd half of 19th century that science frontier got broken time after time, it would seem that human was conquering the nature. This might lead to both of WW eventually.
I just wonder if battery technology breakthrough will render sustained fusion reactors almost useless or the opposite will happen.
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The 2nd half of 19th century that science frontier got broken time after time, it would seem that human was conquering the nature. This might lead to both of WW eventually.
I just wonder if battery technology breakthrough will render sustained fusion reactors almost useless or the opposite will happen.
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Fishers
Great video as always. Contains a minor error. You say gas around the sun absorbs more radiation than it emits. That is not so. It absorbs the same as it emits but the relevant radiation it absorbs is traveling towards us so in one direction, but it emits it in all directions, hence the black lines.
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Great video as always. Contains a minor error. You say gas around the sun absorbs more radiation than it emits. That is not so. It absorbs the same as it emits but the relevant radiation it absorbs is traveling towards us so in one direction, but it emits it in all directions, hence the black lines.
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pikiwiki
because it was a black body, if any light emitted from the black body would be from the substance itself being heated and the amount of light you get only depends on the temperature of the substance and the frequency you're looking at black body radiation in a nutshell?
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because it was a black body, if any light emitted from the black body would be from the substance itself being heated and the amount of light you get only depends on the temperature of the substance and the frequency you're looking at black body radiation in a nutshell?
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Ahmed
Another awesome video. So rich with historical anecdotes that made the physics even more interesting and the scientists come alive. I have never felt so close to Bunsen, Plank and Kirchhoff before this video. Thanks very much Kathy for such a wonderful and inspiring work.
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Another awesome video. So rich with historical anecdotes that made the physics even more interesting and the scientists come alive. I have never felt so close to Bunsen, Plank and Kirchhoff before this video. Thanks very much Kathy for such a wonderful and inspiring work.
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ThomasHaberkorn
at 8: 00, you talk about the concentration of gold in the sun's atmosphere. My question: is the spectrum alone enough to determine the relative abundance of elements in the sun? If not, how is it determined? Thanks for another great video
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at 8: 00, you talk about the concentration of gold in the sun's atmosphere. My question: is the spectrum alone enough to determine the relative abundance of elements in the sun? If not, how is it determined? Thanks for another great video
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Ned
This is excellent history. There are so many other spectrographic-like phenomena that are used in science: NMR, various chromatography methods, Mossbauer spectroscopy, etc. that perhaps should be pointed out, that this was just the start.
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This is excellent history. There are so many other spectrographic-like phenomena that are used in science: NMR, various chromatography methods, Mossbauer spectroscopy, etc. that perhaps should be pointed out, that this was just the start.
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vinny
I have left Netflix for this, quite addictive. You tell great things in a simple format like a story. It sounds so easy- almost like the gymnasts showing their skills. These videos are sure to inspire a lot of people. Thank you.
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I have left Netflix for this, quite addictive. You tell great things in a simple format like a story. It sounds so easy- almost like the gymnasts showing their skills. These videos are sure to inspire a lot of people. Thank you.
reply
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