Anders Jonas Ångström facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anders Jonas Ångström
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Anders Jonas Ångström
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| Born | 13 August 1814 |
| Died | 21 June 1874 (aged 59) Uppsala, Sweden
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| Nationality | Sweden |
| Citizenship | Swedish |
| Alma mater | Uppsala University |
| Known for | Spectroscopy Ångström exponent Airglow |
| Awards | Rumford Medal (1872) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics, Astronomy |
Anders Jonas Ångström (13 August 1814 – 21 June 1874) was a Swedish physicist. He was one of the people who started the science of spectroscopy. This field studies how light interacts with matter.
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Who Was Anders Ångström?
Anders Jonas Ångström was born in Medelpad, Sweden. He went to school in Härnösand. In 1833, he moved to Uppsala and studied at Uppsala University. He became a physics teacher there in 1839.
Early Career and Research
In 1842, Ångström went to the Stockholm Observatory. He wanted to learn more about practical astronomy. The next year, he became the keeper of the Uppsala Astronomical Observatory. He was very interested in Earth's magnetic field. He recorded how the magnetic strength changed in different parts of Sweden.
He was also asked to work on magnetic data from a ship's trip around the world. This work took him many years to finish.
Important Discoveries in Physics
In 1858, Ångström became a professor of physics at Uppsala. His most important work was about how heat moves and how spectroscopy works.
Understanding Light and Spectra
In 1853, he wrote about his research on light, called Optiska Undersökningar. He showed that an electric spark creates two types of light patterns, called spectra. One comes from the metal of the spark, and the other comes from the gas around it.
He also figured out that a hot, glowing gas gives off light rays. These rays are the same ones that the gas can absorb. This idea is a basic rule of spectrum analysis. It means he was one of the main people who started spectroscopy.
Studying the Sun's Light
From 1861, Ångström focused on the solar spectrum. This is the range of colors and light that comes from the Sun. He used a spectroscope with photography to study the Sun.
In 1862, he proved that the Sun's atmosphere contains hydrogen and other elements. In 1868, he published a big map of the normal solar spectrum. This map included detailed measurements of over 1000 spectral lines. His measurements were very important for a long time.
Investigating the Aurora Borealis
In 1867, Ångström was the first to study the spectrum of the aurora borealis. This is also known as the Northern Lights. He found and measured a special bright line in its yellow-green light. This line is often named after him.
Recognitions and Legacy
Ångström was chosen as a member of many important groups. These included the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1850 and the Royal Society in 1870. He passed away in Uppsala on June 21, 1874. His son, Knut Ångström, also became a physicist.
What is the Ångström Unit?
The Ångström unit (written as 1 Å) is named after him. This unit is used to measure very small things. It is equal to one ten-billionth of a meter (10−10 m).
It is often used to measure the wavelengths of light. It also measures the tiny spaces between atoms in materials. This unit is important in fields like crystallography and spectroscopy.
Other Honors for Ångström
- The crater Ångström on the Moon is named in his honor.
- One of the main buildings at Uppsala University is called the Ångström Laboratory. This building houses many science departments, including physics, astronomy, and chemistry.
Images for kids
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Front pages of the 1868 copy of "Recherches sur le spectre solaire"
See also
In Spanish: Anders Jonas Ångström para niños
