[Music] [Applause]
outside right now it’s a beautiful
outside right now it’s a beautiful Friday in Okinawa and as many of you
Friday in Okinawa and as many of you
Friday in Okinawa and as many of you know the Japanese word for Friday is
know the Japanese word for Friday is
know the Japanese word for Friday is Kineo B which literally means gold day
Kineo B which literally means gold day
Kineo B which literally means gold day and the Japanese week there is no iron
and the Japanese week there is no iron
and the Japanese week there is no iron day there is no silver day there is no
day there is no silver day there is no
day there is no silver day there is no LED day only gold was considered worthy
LED day only gold was considered worthy
LED day only gold was considered worthy of having its own day so I want to ask
of having its own day so I want to ask
of having its own day so I want to ask what is it with us and gold yes there
what is it with us and gold yes there
what is it with us and gold yes there may be some rulebook to human
may be some rulebook to human
may be some rulebook to human civilization where it says in a very
civilization where it says in a very
civilization where it says in a very serious tone of voice no there is this
serious tone of voice no there is this
serious tone of voice no there is this metal called gold it’s element number 79
metal called gold it’s element number 79
metal called gold it’s element number 79 in the periodic table and that is what
in the periodic table and that is what
in the periodic table and that is what you’re going to use for your currency
you’re going to use for your currency
you’re going to use for your currency and where is jewelry and that’s what
and where is jewelry and that’s what
and where is jewelry and that’s what you’re going to put in your vaults and
you’re going to put in your vaults and
you’re going to put in your vaults and in your treasure chests and go to war
in your treasure chests and go to war
in your treasure chests and go to war for very important element number 79
for very important element number 79
for very important element number 79 don’t forget so no no our fascination
don’t forget so no no our fascination
don’t forget so no no our fascination with gold has arisen without any such
with gold has arisen without any such
with gold has arisen without any such instructions this is just we are simple
instructions this is just we are simple
instructions this is just we are simple creatures and we are attracted to bright
creatures and we are attracted to bright
creatures and we are attracted to bright and distinctive colors and it just so
and distinctive colors and it just so
and distinctive colors and it just so happens that in a world full of grey
happens that in a world full of grey
happens that in a world full of grey metals there is one metal that is yellow
metals there is one metal that is yellow
metals there is one metal that is yellow so our question for today is why is gold
so our question for today is why is gold
so our question for today is why is gold yellow now is that even a legitimate
yellow now is that even a legitimate
yellow now is that even a legitimate question to ask and perhaps there is a
question to ask and perhaps there is a
question to ask and perhaps there is a rulebook to the universe where it says
rulebook to the universe where it says
rulebook to the universe where it says yes an element number 79 is going to be
yes an element number 79 is going to be
yes an element number 79 is going to be yellow also element number 8 is good for
yellow also element number 8 is good for
yellow also element number 8 is good for burning things
burning things
burning things bunnies are good at hopping and frogs
bunnies are good at hopping and frogs
bunnies are good at hopping and frogs are good at jumping but no we ain’t come
are good at jumping but no we ain’t come
are good at jumping but no we ain’t come this far in the scientific revolution to
this far in the scientific revolution to
this far in the scientific revolution to keep thinking in these terms we
keep thinking in these terms we
keep thinking in these terms we understand that all of these phenomena
understand that all of these phenomena
understand that all of these phenomena of everyday life must be arising from
of everyday life must be arising from
of everyday life must be arising from some deeper more fundamental laws that
some deeper more fundamental laws that
some deeper more fundamental laws that are closer to the ultimate nature of
are closer to the ultimate nature of
are closer to the ultimate nature of reality so now with renewed vigor and
reality so now with renewed vigor and
reality so now with renewed vigor and the confidence that an answer should
the confidence that an answer should
the confidence that an answer should exist hey why is gold yellow and the
exist hey why is gold yellow and the
exist hey why is gold yellow and the answer it turns out to be remarkable and
answer it turns out to be remarkable and
answer it turns out to be remarkable and is one of my favorite stories in all of
is one of my favorite stories in all of
is one of my favorite stories in all of science and it is so deliciously
science and it is so deliciously
science and it is so deliciously counterintuitive that even though it has
counterintuitive that even though it has
counterintuitive that even though it has been known for something like 40 years
been known for something like 40 years
been known for something like 40 years it is still managed not to percolate
it is still managed not to percolate
it is still managed not to percolate into our general culture the papers from
into our general culture the papers from
into our general culture the papers from the time
the time
the time when these things were first understood
when these things were first understood
when these things were first understood have magnificent titles like this one
have magnificent titles like this one
have magnificent titles like this one that reads relativity and the periodic
that reads relativity and the periodic
that reads relativity and the periodic system of elements
system of elements
system of elements okay so relativity so these guys are
okay so relativity so these guys are
okay so relativity so these guys are telling us that the color of gold as
telling us that the color of gold as
telling us that the color of gold as well as some other phenomena like the
well as some other phenomena like the
well as some other phenomena like the fact that mercury is a liquid have to do
fact that mercury is a liquid have to do
fact that mercury is a liquid have to do with relativity with the strange and
with relativity with the strange and
with relativity with the strange and wonderful behavior of objects near the
wonderful behavior of objects near the
wonderful behavior of objects near the speed of light now the thing that most
speed of light now the thing that most
speed of light now the thing that most of you know about the speed of light is
of you know about the speed of light is
of you know about the speed of light is that it acts as the universal speed
that it acts as the universal speed
that it acts as the universal speed limit so when Han Solo tells Chewbacca
limit so when Han Solo tells Chewbacca
limit so when Han Solo tells Chewbacca Chewie take us to Lightspeed in the real
Chewie take us to Lightspeed in the real
Chewie take us to Lightspeed in the real world that doesn’t work which we can’t
world that doesn’t work which we can’t
world that doesn’t work which we can’t take us to Lightspeed the entire
take us to Lightspeed the entire
take us to Lightspeed the entire structure of space-time conspires to
structure of space-time conspires to
structure of space-time conspires to prevent him from following this simple
prevent him from following this simple
prevent him from following this simple instruction and the particular way in
instruction and the particular way in
instruction and the particular way in which that happens is that as you try to
which that happens is that as you try to
which that happens is that as you try to accelerate closer and closer to the
accelerate closer and closer to the
accelerate closer and closer to the speed of light you start getting heavier
speed of light you start getting heavier
speed of light you start getting heavier and heavier
and heavier
and heavier so that accelerating further becomes
so that accelerating further becomes
so that accelerating further becomes harder and harder and eventually
harder and harder and eventually
harder and harder and eventually impossible so the story that I want to
impossible so the story that I want to
impossible so the story that I want to tell you today is that because of this
tell you today is that because of this
tell you today is that because of this effect because of mass increase near the
effect because of mass increase near the
effect because of mass increase near the speed of light gold turns out to be
speed of light gold turns out to be
speed of light gold turns out to be yellow all right now today I spent all
yellow all right now today I spent all
yellow all right now today I spent all morning talking to my scientists friends
morning talking to my scientists friends
morning talking to my scientists friends around campus and I was asking them do
around campus and I was asking them do
around campus and I was asking them do you know why gold is yellow and they say
you know why gold is yellow and they say
you know why gold is yellow and they say no and I was telling the wallet it’s
no and I was telling the wallet it’s
no and I was telling the wallet it’s relativity and they have no idea what
relativity and they have no idea what
relativity and they have no idea what I’m talking about and I’m telling them
I’m talking about and I’m telling them
I’m talking about and I’m telling them it’s mass increase near the speed of
it’s mass increase near the speed of
it’s mass increase near the speed of light and they still have no idea what
light and they still have no idea what
light and they still have no idea what I’m talking about so I am sure that our
I’m talking about so I am sure that our
I’m talking about so I am sure that our main audience are all smart people and
main audience are all smart people and
main audience are all smart people and have already figured out the story from
have already figured out the story from
have already figured out the story from these Clues but for the sake of my
these Clues but for the sake of my
these Clues but for the sake of my friends let’s fill in some more details
friends let’s fill in some more details
friends let’s fill in some more details about how this actually works
about how this actually works
about how this actually works the first counterintuitive twist in the
the first counterintuitive twist in the
the first counterintuitive twist in the story is that it’s not about the color
story is that it’s not about the color
story is that it’s not about the color yellow at all this is a story about the
yellow at all this is a story about the
yellow at all this is a story about the color blue ordinary gray metals are gray
color blue ordinary gray metals are gray
color blue ordinary gray metals are gray because they reflect light in all the
because they reflect light in all the
because they reflect light in all the colors of the visible spectrum and when
colors of the visible spectrum and when
colors of the visible spectrum and when it comes to yellow gold is a plain
it comes to yellow gold is a plain
it comes to yellow gold is a plain ordinary metal it reflects yellow just
ordinary metal it reflects yellow just
ordinary metal it reflects yellow just as a metal should what is special about
as a metal should what is special about
as a metal should what is special about gold is its reaction to the color blue
gold is its reaction to the color blue
gold is its reaction to the color blue instead of reflecting blue it decides to
instead of reflecting blue it decides to
instead of reflecting blue it decides to absorb it so what we see as the yellow
absorb it so what we see as the yellow
absorb it so what we see as the yellow color of gold is really the overall
color of gold is really the overall
color of gold is really the overall incoming white light with blue
incoming white light with blue
incoming white light with blue subtracted the question is then why is
subtracted the question is then why is
subtracted the question is then why is gold absorbing blue and this might sound
gold absorbing blue and this might sound
gold absorbing blue and this might sound at the face of it quite scary so
at the face of it quite scary so
at the face of it quite scary so ordinary metals don’t absorb light at
ordinary metals don’t absorb light at
ordinary metals don’t absorb light at all and this one does so something
all and this one does so something
all and this one does so something radically different here but in fact
radically different here but in fact
radically different here but in fact it’s not as bad as that ordinary metals
it’s not as bad as that ordinary metals
it’s not as bad as that ordinary metals also absorb light it’s just that they
also absorb light it’s just that they
also absorb light it’s just that they don’t do it at the visible colors
don’t do it at the visible colors
don’t do it at the visible colors instead they like to absorb ultraviolet
instead they like to absorb ultraviolet
instead they like to absorb ultraviolet so the special thing about gold is that
so the special thing about gold is that
so the special thing about gold is that it takes this behavior for it new metals
it takes this behavior for it new metals
it takes this behavior for it new metals and shifts it from the ultraviolet
and shifts it from the ultraviolet
and shifts it from the ultraviolet towards the visible blue so the question
towards the visible blue so the question
towards the visible blue so the question of why is there a gold day in the
of why is there a gold day in the
of why is there a gold day in the Japanese week then becomes why should
Japanese week then becomes why should
Japanese week then becomes why should that decide to absorb blue instead of UV
that decide to absorb blue instead of UV
that decide to absorb blue instead of UV at this point we should start getting
at this point we should start getting
at this point we should start getting more physics e we should start replacing
more physics e we should start replacing
more physics e we should start replacing all of these names of colors with some
all of these names of colors with some
all of these names of colors with some number so what’s a good number that
number so what’s a good number that
number so what’s a good number that distinguishes ultraviolet light from
distinguishes ultraviolet light from
distinguishes ultraviolet light from blue visible right one such number is
blue visible right one such number is
blue visible right one such number is energy as we know well from getting
energy as we know well from getting
energy as we know well from getting sunburned ultraviolet light is more
sunburned ultraviolet light is more
sunburned ultraviolet light is more energetic than visible so really the
energetic than visible so really the
energetic than visible so really the question is why is this one special
question is why is this one special
question is why is this one special metal deciding to absorb light of lower
metal deciding to absorb light of lower
metal deciding to absorb light of lower energy than usual and in order to start
energy than usual and in order to start
energy than usual and in order to start answering that we need to remind
answering that we need to remind
answering that we need to remind ourselves what matter is actually made
ourselves what matter is actually made
ourselves what matter is actually made of it’s a matter is made of atoms atoms
of it’s a matter is made of atoms atoms
of it’s a matter is made of atoms atoms are made of electrons orbiting around
are made of electrons orbiting around
are made of electrons orbiting around the nucleus and what usually happens
the nucleus and what usually happens
the nucleus and what usually happens when matter absorbs light is that the
when matter absorbs light is that the
when matter absorbs light is that the energy of the light gets picked up by
energy of the light gets picked up by
energy of the light gets picked up by one of the outermost electrons in the
one of the outermost electrons in the
one of the outermost electrons in the atom and the electron uses it to jump up
atom and the electron uses it to jump up
atom and the electron uses it to jump up into the next available orbit so when we
into the next available orbit so when we
into the next available orbit so when we are saying that the material absorbs
are saying that the material absorbs
are saying that the material absorbs high-energy ultraviolet light we are
high-energy ultraviolet light we are
high-energy ultraviolet light we are really saying that there is a large gap
really saying that there is a large gap
really saying that there is a large gap between the orbits and if it’s absorbing
between the orbits and if it’s absorbing
between the orbits and if it’s absorbing low-energy blue light then we are really
low-energy blue light then we are really
low-energy blue light then we are really saying that there is a smaller gap
saying that there is a smaller gap
saying that there is a smaller gap between the orbits so the special thing
between the orbits so the special thing
between the orbits so the special thing about gold is that the orbits and the
about gold is that the orbits and the
about gold is that the orbits and the gold atom are closer together than they
gold atom are closer together than they
gold atom are closer together than they should be
should be
should be and if we look in a bit more detail we
and if we look in a bit more detail we
and if we look in a bit more detail we will see that what
will see that what
will see that what actually happening here is that it’s the
actually happening here is that it’s the
actually happening here is that it’s the top orbit that’s changing the top orbit
top orbit that’s changing the top orbit
top orbit that’s changing the top orbit is shifting down in gold as compared to
is shifting down in gold as compared to
is shifting down in gold as compared to an ordinary metal well the next orbit
an ordinary metal well the next orbit
an ordinary metal well the next orbit below is more or less staying put and
below is more or less staying put and
below is more or less staying put and that is how the gap between them shrinks
that is how the gap between them shrinks
that is how the gap between them shrinks so what’s special about gold the reason
so what’s special about gold the reason
so what’s special about gold the reason we go to war over the stuff is that the
we go to war over the stuff is that the
we go to war over the stuff is that the topmost orbit in its atom is lower than
topmost orbit in its atom is lower than
topmost orbit in its atom is lower than usual why is that well I told you why
usual why is that well I told you why
usual why is that well I told you why because of mass increase near the speed
because of mass increase near the speed
because of mass increase near the speed of light now you know I’m looking at my
of light now you know I’m looking at my
of light now you know I’m looking at my friends faces and I’m seeing that they
friends faces and I’m seeing that they
friends faces and I’m seeing that they are still not quite getting so let’s go
are still not quite getting so let’s go
are still not quite getting so let’s go deeper are we saying that when an
deeper are we saying that when an
deeper are we saying that when an electron gets heavier its orbit becomes
electron gets heavier its orbit becomes
electron gets heavier its orbit becomes lower oh yes we are
lower oh yes we are
lower oh yes we are well how might that come about to
well how might that come about to
well how might that come about to understand that we need to start
understand that we need to start
understand that we need to start stepping away from the schoolbook
stepping away from the schoolbook
stepping away from the schoolbook caricature of what an atom looks like
caricature of what an atom looks like
caricature of what an atom looks like from the solar system here and remind
from the solar system here and remind
from the solar system here and remind ourselves that electrons really obey the
ourselves that electrons really obey the
ourselves that electrons really obey the rules of quantum mechanics and then they
rules of quantum mechanics and then they
rules of quantum mechanics and then they are not quite little points going around
are not quite little points going around
are not quite little points going around the nice circular orbits but much more
the nice circular orbits but much more
the nice circular orbits but much more like waves spread out throughout the
like waves spread out throughout the
like waves spread out throughout the entire circle of the orbit and the thing
entire circle of the orbit and the thing
entire circle of the orbit and the thing about these waves is that heavy
about these waves is that heavy
about these waves is that heavy particles have waves that are shorter so
particles have waves that are shorter so
particles have waves that are shorter so what happens when an electron gets
what happens when an electron gets
what happens when an electron gets accelerated close to light speed is that
accelerated close to light speed is that
accelerated close to light speed is that it gets heavier its wavelength gets
it gets heavier its wavelength gets
it gets heavier its wavelength gets shorter and because the wave has to span
shorter and because the wave has to span
shorter and because the wave has to span the orbit then the orbit must shrink as
the orbit then the orbit must shrink as
the orbit then the orbit must shrink as well and that’s how we go from absorbing
well and that’s how we go from absorbing
well and that’s how we go from absorbing ultraviolet towards absorbing blue and
ultraviolet towards absorbing blue and
ultraviolet towards absorbing blue and this is how mass increase near the speed
this is how mass increase near the speed
this is how mass increase near the speed of light manages to give us the golden
of light manages to give us the golden
of light manages to give us the golden twinkle bright Oh what we haven’t said
twinkle bright Oh what we haven’t said
twinkle bright Oh what we haven’t said is what is it that gets an electron
is what is it that gets an electron
is what is it that gets an electron anywhere close to the speed of light we
anywhere close to the speed of light we
anywhere close to the speed of light we usually don’t think about such things
usually don’t think about such things
usually don’t think about such things happening in chemistry and you’re the
happening in chemistry and you’re the
happening in chemistry and you’re the thing to understand is that the gold
thing to understand is that the gold
thing to understand is that the gold atom is a bit of a monster it is one of
atom is a bit of a monster it is one of
atom is a bit of a monster it is one of the largest atoms that are commonly
the largest atoms that are commonly
the largest atoms that are commonly found in nature its nucleus has a
found in nature its nucleus has a
found in nature its nucleus has a whopping 79 protons inside and their
whopping 79 protons inside and their
whopping 79 protons inside and their combined electrical interaction
combined electrical interaction
combined electrical interaction attraction is what is capable of
attraction is what is capable of
attraction is what is capable of accelerating an electron that gets too
accelerating an electron that gets too
accelerating an electron that gets too close all the way
close all the way
close all the way near the speed of light so there we go
near the speed of light so there we go
near the speed of light so there we go that’s the story all the relevant laws
that’s the story all the relevant laws
that’s the story all the relevant laws of physics that are needed for telling
of physics that are needed for telling
of physics that are needed for telling what they just told you have been around
what they just told you have been around
what they just told you have been around since the 1920s but as far as I’m aware
since the 1920s but as far as I’m aware
since the 1920s but as far as I’m aware it took about 40 or 50 years after that
it took about 40 or 50 years after that
it took about 40 or 50 years after that before this whole explanation was pieced
before this whole explanation was pieced
before this whole explanation was pieced together and the reason is that in this
together and the reason is that in this
together and the reason is that in this story there is something paradoxical
story there is something paradoxical
story there is something paradoxical there is something that was putting off
there is something that was putting off
there is something that was putting off people from thinking in this direction
people from thinking in this direction
people from thinking in this direction you may have noticed that in what I’ve
you may have noticed that in what I’ve
you may have noticed that in what I’ve told you so far there hides a
told you so far there hides a
told you so far there hides a contradiction because on one hand the
contradiction because on one hand the
contradiction because on one hand the electrons that are in charge of
electrons that are in charge of
electrons that are in charge of responding to light deciding what gets
responding to light deciding what gets
responding to light deciding what gets reflected and what gets absorbed are the
reflected and what gets absorbed are the
reflected and what gets absorbed are the outer electrons inside the atom and the
outer electrons inside the atom and the
outer electrons inside the atom and the other hand the electrons that are
other hand the electrons that are
other hand the electrons that are getting close to the nucleus accelerated
getting close to the nucleus accelerated
getting close to the nucleus accelerated and then were heavier are the ones
and then were heavier are the ones
and then were heavier are the ones closest to the nucleus and the inside of
closest to the nucleus and the inside of
closest to the nucleus and the inside of that so that makes no sense in order for
that so that makes no sense in order for
that so that makes no sense in order for this to be the mechanism behind the
this to be the mechanism behind the
this to be the mechanism behind the color of gold an electron must be
color of gold an electron must be
color of gold an electron must be somehow doing both things at once but
somehow doing both things at once but
somehow doing both things at once but that of course is exactly what electrons
that of course is exactly what electrons
that of course is exactly what electrons in quantum mechanics do they are not
in quantum mechanics do they are not
in quantum mechanics do they are not quite waves going around in a circle
quite waves going around in a circle
quite waves going around in a circle around the nucleus they are rather more
around the nucleus they are rather more
around the nucleus they are rather more like clouds of probability to find an
like clouds of probability to find an
like clouds of probability to find an electron distributed all over the volume
electron distributed all over the volume
electron distributed all over the volume of the atom it’s just the higher orbits
of the atom it’s just the higher orbits
of the atom it’s just the higher orbits are just ones that are more concentrated
are just ones that are more concentrated
are just ones that are more concentrated on the outside the lower orbits are more
on the outside the lower orbits are more
on the outside the lower orbits are more concentrated on the inside but both in
concentrated on the inside but both in
concentrated on the inside but both in principle span both here and there and
principle span both here and there and
principle span both here and there and so this is how a single electron can
so this is how a single electron can
so this is how a single electron can both be on the inside right next to the
both be on the inside right next to the
both be on the inside right next to the nucleus getting accelerated to near the
nucleus getting accelerated to near the
nucleus getting accelerated to near the speed of light and getting heavier
speed of light and getting heavier
speed of light and getting heavier because of its end at the same time be
because of its end at the same time be
because of its end at the same time be outside reacting accordingly to light
outside reacting accordingly to light
outside reacting accordingly to light and deciding to absorb the blue all
and deciding to absorb the blue all
and deciding to absorb the blue all right now we’re almost there
right now we’re almost there
right now we’re almost there Gold is almost yellow but something is
Gold is almost yellow but something is
Gold is almost yellow but something is still
still
still because remember that in order to decide
because remember that in order to decide
because remember that in order to decide how a material reacts to light what is
how a material reacts to light what is
how a material reacts to light what is important are the gaps the distances
important are the gaps the distances
important are the gaps the distances between the different orbits it is not
between the different orbits it is not
between the different orbits it is not enough for the top orbit to come down it
enough for the top orbit to come down it
enough for the top orbit to come down it is also important that the next orbit
is also important that the next orbit
is also important that the next orbit below doesn’t only then the distance
below doesn’t only then the distance
below doesn’t only then the distance between them can shrink and we can turn
between them can shrink and we can turn
between them can shrink and we can turn ultraviolet absorption into blue
ultraviolet absorption into blue
ultraviolet absorption into blue absorption and make our gold yellow so
absorption and make our gold yellow so
absorption and make our gold yellow so why does everything we just said apply
why does everything we just said apply
why does everything we just said apply only to the topmost orbit how can we
only to the topmost orbit how can we
only to the topmost orbit how can we have two orbits that are behaving in
have two orbits that are behaving in
have two orbits that are behaving in this radically different ways aren’t
this radically different ways aren’t
this radically different ways aren’t they just the same thing only one of
they just the same thing only one of
they just the same thing only one of them is a bit higher and the other is a
them is a bit higher and the other is a
them is a bit higher and the other is a bit lower and turns out that this is
bit lower and turns out that this is
bit lower and turns out that this is much the same question as why do atoms
much the same question as why do atoms
much the same question as why do atoms behave as Lego blocks why do they attach
behave as Lego blocks why do they attach
behave as Lego blocks why do they attach to each other in molecules at fixed
to each other in molecules at fixed
to each other in molecules at fixed angles where this chemistry work the way
angles where this chemistry work the way
angles where this chemistry work the way it does now now are you feeling it yes
it does now now are you feeling it yes
it does now now are you feeling it yes the the ground is getting more and more
the the ground is getting more and more
the the ground is getting more and more sacred as we talk you know I’m not a
sacred as we talk you know I’m not a
sacred as we talk you know I’m not a religious guy but just as a precaution
religious guy but just as a precaution
religious guy but just as a precaution this is a good point to take off one’s
this is a good point to take off one’s
this is a good point to take off one’s shoes so an electron is not quite a
shoes so an electron is not quite a
shoes so an electron is not quite a point running around in a circle inside
point running around in a circle inside
point running around in a circle inside the atom it is not quite a wave running
the atom it is not quite a wave running
the atom it is not quite a wave running around in a circle either and it is not
around in a circle either and it is not
around in a circle either and it is not quite a cloud of probability distributed
quite a cloud of probability distributed
quite a cloud of probability distributed throughout the atoms volume it is all
throughout the atoms volume it is all
throughout the atoms volume it is all those things it is much more like a wave
those things it is much more like a wave
those things it is much more like a wave of probability distributed throughout
of probability distributed throughout
of probability distributed throughout the volume of the atom and this here
the volume of the atom and this here
the volume of the atom and this here these waves of probability this is the
these waves of probability this is the
these waves of probability this is the beating heart of quantum mechanics the
beating heart of quantum mechanics the
beating heart of quantum mechanics the secret operating system of the universe
secret operating system of the universe
secret operating system of the universe revealed by the great sages of the 1920s
revealed by the great sages of the 1920s
revealed by the great sages of the 1920s the fundamental magic behind the myriad
the fundamental magic behind the myriad
the fundamental magic behind the myriad phenomena of the everyday and the
phenomena of the everyday and the
phenomena of the everyday and the ultimate reason why gold manages to be
ultimate reason why gold manages to be
ultimate reason why gold manages to be yellow after all the thing about waves
yellow after all the thing about waves
yellow after all the thing about waves is that when two waves meet they can
is that when two waves meet they can
is that when two waves meet they can either add up and reinforce each other
either add up and reinforce each other
either add up and reinforce each other or they can cancel out and subtract so
or they can cancel out and subtract so
or they can cancel out and subtract so when we ask ourselves what is the
when we ask ourselves what is the
when we ask ourselves what is the electrons probability to find itself at
electrons probability to find itself at
electrons probability to find itself at the center near the nucleus and feel its
the center near the nucleus and feel its
the center near the nucleus and feel its might
might
might Electrical attraction what we should
Electrical attraction what we should
Electrical attraction what we should really be doing is we should be taking
really be doing is we should be taking
really be doing is we should be taking the waves of electron probability coming
the waves of electron probability coming
the waves of electron probability coming in from all the directions in the atom
in from all the directions in the atom
in from all the directions in the atom at once adding up at the center meeting
at once adding up at the center meeting
at once adding up at the center meeting each other at the center and deciding
each other at the center and deciding
each other at the center and deciding what to do and then for one orbit it
what to do and then for one orbit it
what to do and then for one orbit it might happen that these waves will adapt
might happen that these waves will adapt
might happen that these waves will adapt reinforce each other and create a blob
reinforce each other and create a blob
reinforce each other and create a blob of probability for the electron to be in
of probability for the electron to be in
of probability for the electron to be in the center get accelerated heavier and
the center get accelerated heavier and
the center get accelerated heavier and the orbit will come down but or for a
the orbit will come down but or for a
the orbit will come down but or for a different orbit it could be that the
different orbit it could be that the
different orbit it could be that the waves coming in from different
waves coming in from different
waves coming in from different directions in the atom are opposite to
directions in the atom are opposite to
directions in the atom are opposite to each other is they subtract and then you
each other is they subtract and then you
each other is they subtract and then you get no probability for the electron to
get no probability for the electron to
get no probability for the electron to be at the center near the nucleus and no
be at the center near the nucleus and no
be at the center near the nucleus and no effect so this is how it’s possible for
effect so this is how it’s possible for
effect so this is how it’s possible for the top orbit to come down well the next
the top orbit to come down well the next
the top orbit to come down well the next orbit below stays but this is how we can
orbit below stays but this is how we can
orbit below stays but this is how we can get from absorbing UV light to absorbing
get from absorbing UV light to absorbing
get from absorbing UV light to absorbing blue light this is how we can get from
blue light this is how we can get from
blue light this is how we can get from gray to golden hey thanks to mass
gray to golden hey thanks to mass
gray to golden hey thanks to mass increase near the speed of light with a
increase near the speed of light with a
increase near the speed of light with a healthy dose of help from the
healthy dose of help from the
healthy dose of help from the probability wave fundamental nature of
probability wave fundamental nature of
probability wave fundamental nature of matter at the quantum level now I dare
matter at the quantum level now I dare
matter at the quantum level now I dare you not to become a scientist thank you
you not to become a scientist thank you
you not to become a scientist thank you very much
very much
very much [Applause]
”
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