How Small Is It - Chapter 3 - The Atom (4K)

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In this segment of our “How small is it” video book, we cover the atom. We start with J.J. Thomson’s Plum Pudding model of the atom. We then introduce Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation, and show how Ernst Rutherford used Alpha Particles in his scattering experiments to develop his version of the atom. We then cover Niels Bohr’s quantized atomic model along with input from Louis de Broglie who used the wave nature of electrons to show that they take the form of standing waves enveloping the nucleus instead of point particles orbiting the nucleus. We then introduce Schrodinger’s Equation, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and the Pauli Exclusion Principle together with electron spin to fill out what we know about electrons around atoms. We explain electron tunneling as an example of these concepts and introduce the Scanning Tunneling Microscope based on these concepts to see atoms by “feeling” them. In closing, we introduce the atomic nucleus and Chadwick’s discovery of the neutron, review how small the nucleus is and ask how is possible for protons to hold together in the nucleus when there like charges should push them apart.

Music
@00:00 Albinoni - Adagio in G Minor - Berlin Chamber Orchestra; from the album “50 Must-Have Adagio Masterpieces” 2013

@05:02 Haydn - Cello Concerto No 2 II Adagio - Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Miklos Perenyi; from the album “50 Must-Have Adagio Masterpieces”, 2013

@09:12 Mozart - Violin Concerto No 3 - Christian Altenburger, German Bach Soloists; from the album “50 Must-Have Adagio Masterpieces” 2013

@20:01 Dave Porter - Breaking Bad Theme - Music from the Original Series Breaking Bad

@22:16 Bizet - L'Arlesienne Suite No 1, Op 23 - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra; from the album “50 Must-Have Adagio Masterpieces” 2013

@26:57Mahler - Symphony No 5 III IV - Budapest Festival Orchestra; from the album “50 Must-Have Adagio Masterpieces” 2013

[NunoGloop]

Funny how we learn about this stuff when we’re younger and most of us don’t care. Now this stuff blows me away. Science is incredible

[seanmcdonough]

David's calm voice is a delight to hear when the concepts make you hair hurt

[SquirrelASMR]

The perfect video to watch at 3am. Thank you for all your hard work creating and sharing these wonderful lectures with the world! They are so well organized and presented, and also the most relaxing natration ever to listen to as our minds drift off to sleep at night while our imaginations dream of the wonders of the universe.

[tendaychart]

This series is among the top videos on You Tube for the subject matter. The photographs of the actual equipment, the maths, the clarity of the narration, all of which provide an excellent and extremely educational tutorial.

[ln]

Perhaps the best overview of classical and quantum modelling of atoms I have ever seen. Watched it with my 16 yr old son. Very enjoyable thankyou. He also stated it was the best explanation of spin he had also seen.

[lil.Planck]

Mr. Butler, you are an angel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[ericfan]

Best explanation of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle I’ve seen; it’s often simply stated, but rarely illustrated so clearly. The whole video is very educational. I like that you refer to the actual experiments that were performed, which shows the scientific process underlying the theory.

[shazbotgaming]

He green screened himself into an office, lol :) I love the video. I will definitely re-watch it a few times to really solidify some of this information.

[djgroopz]

It's the bioshock background music that gets me every time in these videos. That violin... 🎻

[the.rogue.roman.]

I love the classical music, and I appreciate that you dressed well to make this video.

[ThomasJr]

Mr. Butler is a gentleman, his channel is among the top 10 best science channels on Youtube. But he usually makes the videos very complete, so they are like a complete course, not just skimmed topics.

[TruckerJenkins]

Never has somebody made such fascinating videos that capture my attention so thoroughly whilst also doubling up as a sleeping aid that has never failed me once.

[DanielVerberne]

I love, love, love the *space* in your videos, Mr Butler....

The gaps, the pauses... so much of what we see on YouTube is hyperactive, where every second must be filled...

[davedave]

You know your doing it right when i don't understand most of it but still can't turn it off.

[antoniomaglione]

The clearest description of an atom I have ever heard or seen.
Thank you!

[verecion]

Learned more here than I ever did in university chemistry.

[angel_machariel]

Wow, this was massively illuminating. The explanation on spin was most notable to me. Now I understand that "spin" is that thing that makes a particle go up or down, depending on it's spin-value in relation to a magnetic field.

[ArchYeomans]

Man. This is an awesome find. I love the music playing in the background and the pace of the speech. Perfect!

[MzeeMoja]

I love how humanity benefits from knowledge that was obtained hundreds of years ago and how future humans will benefit from knowledge obtained today.

[ThePromptWizard]

LEGENDARY!! Not only have I learned tons about the universe in all of your videos, but as Squirrel ASMR mentioned, these videos also are an AMAZING sleep aid for those of us cursed with insomnia. Hot shower, melatonin, herbal remedies, Benedryl, and How Far Is It playlist. BOOM.