Tag: physics

2018 Nobel Prize in Physics

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics: The creation of tools made from laser light

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The science of thunderstorms

The science of thunderstorms – thunder, lightning, and chemical reactions

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The science of thunderstorms
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Here in the UK, a completely un-British heatwave finally came to a thundery end last weekend. Having already looked at the chemistry behind the smell of rain, here’s a look at some of the science behind thunderstorms. How does lightning happen, what gives it its blue-violet tinge, and what does it have to do with plant growth?
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The Secrets of the Coke and Mentos Fountain

The Secrets of the Coke and Mentos Fountain

The Secrets of the Coke and Mentos Fountain
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It’s one of the most popular science demonstrations: Pop a handful of Mentos candies into a bottle of Coke, and a fountain of bubbles rapidly spurts from the open bottle, often over a metre into the air. Originally the explanation for the effect was thought to be quite simple. However, scientists are finding that there’s more to this spectacular demonstration than meets the eye.

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Today in Chemistry History – Ernest Rutherford’s Birthday

Today in Chemistry History: Ernest Rutherford's birthday. Shows a picture of Rutherford with a short bio: he won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on radioactivity, naming alpha and beta radiation. He also developed the Rutherford model of the atom. A diagram shows his famous gold foil experiment, in which alpha particles were fired at thin metal foils. Most passed through the foil but a small number were deflected back at a large angle. This showed that the positively charged protons are concentrated in the nucleus of the atom.
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Today, 30 August, marks the birthday of Ernest Rutherford. Rutherford is primarily considered a physicist, but his contribution to our understanding of the atom is also important to chemistry. He was also a chemistry Nobel Prize winner, for his work on radioactivity. This graphic looks in detail at one of his most famous experiments, the gold foil experiment which is often name-dropped in school science lessons!

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