Equations · equation
Rydberg Formula
Atomic Physics · 1888
- Equation
- 1/λ = R_H·(1/n₁² − 1/n₂²)
- Field
- Atomic Physics
- Named After
- Johannes Rydberg · Johann Balmer
- Year
- 1888
Symbols
λ wavelength of an emitted or absorbed line · R_H the Rydberg constant (1.097×10⁷ m⁻¹) · n₁, n₂ whole numbers labelling the lower and upper energy levels
Significance
Hydrogen's spectral lines, which looked like a random barcode, obey one formula with two integers in it — pattern found by a schoolteacher (Balmer, 1885) and generalized by Rydberg with no idea why. The integers were a message from inside the atom, waiting twenty-five years for someone to read it.
Spectral Types
B-type StarsA-type Stars
Referenced by
constant
element
equation
event
theory
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