Gustav Kirchhoff

German physicist (1824–1887)

Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (12 March 1824 – 17 October 1887) was a German physicist who contributed to the fundamental understanding of electrical circuits, spectroscopy, and radiation by heated objects. He coined the term black body radiation in 1862.[1]

Gustav Kirchhoff
Gustav Kirchhoff
Born(1824-03-12)12 March 1824
Died17 October 1887(1887-10-17) (aged 63)
NationalityPrussian
Alma materUniversity of Königsberg
Known forKirchhoff's circuit laws
Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation
Kirchhoff's laws of spectroscopy
Kirchhoff's law of thermochemistry
AwardsRumford medal
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsUniversity of Berlin
University of Breslau
University of Heidelberg
Doctoral advisorFranz Ernst Neumann

He proposed two sets of independent concepts in both circuit theory and thermal emission. They are all called 'Kirchhoff's laws' after him, as well as a law of thermochemistry. The Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award for spectroscopy is named after him and his colleague, Robert Bunsen. He also discovered rubidium with Bunsen in 1861.

References change

  1. A 'black body' is an idealised physical body which absorbs all electromagnetic radiation which strikes it, and reflects none. It is also the best possible emitter of thermal radiation (heat).