The Theory of Spectra and Atomic Constitution: Three Essays by Niels Bohr

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The Theory of Spectra and Atomic Constitution: Three Essays by Niels Bohr

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By Charlotte Girard Posted on Nov 15, 2025

In Category - Historical Fiction

Authors: Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962 Published By : Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962

Book Language: English

Ever wondered how scientists figured out what atoms look like? It's a wild story, and Niels Bohr is right in the middle of it. This book isn't a dry history lesson—it's three essays that show him thinking out loud, trying to solve one of physics' biggest puzzles. He's wrestling with weird light patterns from atoms, and the ideas he comes up with are so radical they basically break the old rules of physics. Reading this is like getting a backstage pass to the moment the modern picture of the atom was born. It's challenging, but you can feel the excitement of discovery on every page.

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Pflanzen kultiviert, verpflichtet für die Ueberlassung der Abbildungen. Die in diesem Werkchen besprochenen Pflanzen sind sämtlich in dieser Gärtnerei vorhanden. *Groß-Lichterfelde*, im Frühjahr 1899. * Udo Dammer. * ------------------ VORWORT ZUR ZWEITEN AUFLAGE Die freundliche Aufnahme, welche die erste Auflage erfahren hat, hat eine neue Auflage des vorliegenden Bändchens nötig gemacht. Am Inhalte habe ich nur wenig zu ändern gehabt: einige neue Arten, welche sich als gut geeignet für das zimmer bewährt haben, wurden aufgenommen. Wünschenswert erschien es mir auch, auf einige neuere Hilfsmittel für die Kultur der Zimmerblattpflanzen hinzuweisen. Möge auch diese neue Auflage dem Anfänger in der Zimmerblattpflanzenkultur ein brauchbarer Ratgeber sein. *Dahlem*, im Januar 1908. * Udo Dammer. * REGISTER ------------------ _Acanthaceae_ 85 _Adiantum Capillus Veneris_ 30 _Adiantum cuneatum_ 30 _Adiantum Farleyense_ 30 _Adiantum pedatum_ 30 _Adiantum reniforme_ 29 _Adiantum tenerum_ 30 _Aechmea_ 1 55 Agaven 65 Aloe 65 _Amaryllidaceae_ 65 _Ananas_ 55 _Anthurium crystallinum_ 54 _Araceae_ 50 _Aralia filicifolia_ 83 _Aralia japonica_ 82 _Aralia papyrifera_ 82 _Aralia Sieboldi_ 82 _Aralia Veitchi_ 83 _Araliaceae_ 80 _Araucaria excelsa_ 33 _Archontophoenix Alexandrae_ 46 _Archontophoenix Cunninghami_ 46 _Areca Baueri_ 43 _Areca sapida_ 43 _Asparagus Sprengeri_ 63 _Aspidistra elatior_ 64 _Asplenum Nidus_ 25 _Aucuba japonica_ 83 Bärlappe 31 Bananen 66 Baumepheu 82 _Begonia argyrostigma_ 74 _Begonia discolor_ 74 _Begonia heracleifolia_ 74 _Begonia maculata_ 74 _Begonia Rex_ 73 _Bcgonia ricinifolia_ 75 _Begonia smaragdina_ 75 _Bcgonia xanthina_ 73 _Begoniaceae_ 71 _Bertolonia guttata_ 78 _Bertolonia maculata_ 79 _Billbergia_ 55 Blaugummibaum 75 _Brahea Roezli_ 41 _Bromeliaceae_ 54 _Caladien_ 50, 51, 52 _Caladium Argyrites_ 52 _Calathea zebrina_ 68 _Caprifoliaceae_ 90 _Celastraceae_ 70 _Chamaedorea desmoncoides_ 47 _Chamaedorea Ernesti Augusti_ 48 _Chamaedorea geonomiformis_ 48 _Chamaedorea glaucifolia_ 48 _Chamaerops_ 39 _Chlorophytum comosum_ 57 _Chlorophytum Sternbergianum_ 57 _Cocos australis_ 49 _Cocos Datil_ 49, 66 _Cocos Weddelliana_ 49 _Coffea arabica_ 90 _Coleus Blumei_ 84 _Coleus laciniatus_ 84 _Coleus Verschaffelti_ 84 _Commelinaceae_ 56 _Cordyline australis_ 60 _Cordyline congesta_ 60 _Cordyline ferrea_ 62 _Cordyline ignea_ 62 _Cordyline indivisa_ 60 _Cordyline terminalis_ 62 _Comaceae_ 83 _Corypha australis_ 39 _Cryptomeria japonica_ 33 _Curculigo recurvata_ 66 _Cyanophyllum magnificum_ 79 _Cycadeen_ 32 _Cycas revoluta_ 32 _Cyrtomium falcatum_ 25 Dattelpalme 42 _Dieffenbachia_ 54 _Dioon edule_ 32 _Dracaena cannaefolia_ 63 _Dracaena fragans_ 62 _Dracaena Goldieana_ 62 _Dracaena marginata_ 63 _Dracaena Rothiana_ 62 Elephantenohr 26 Epheu 80 _Eranthemum igneum_ 88 _Eranthemum rubrovenium_ 88 _Eranthemum sanguinolentum_ 88 _Erythea armata_ 41 _Eucalyptus Globulus_ 75 _Eugenia_ 77 _Evonymus japonica_ 70 Färberröte 89 Farne 24 _Fatsia japonica_ 82 _Fatsia papyrifera_ 82 _Ficus elastica_ 69 _Ficus stipulata_ 69 Frauenhaar 29 Goldorange 83 _Grisebachia_ 44 Gummibaum 69 _Hedera colchica_ 80 _Hedera Helix_ 80 _Hedyscepe Canterburyana_ 44 _Howea Belmoreana_ 44 _Howea Forsteriana_ 44 Kaffeebaum 90 _Kentia Baucri_ 43 _Kentia Canterburyana_ 44 _Kentia Mac Adhuri_ 43 _Kentia sapida_ 43 Kletterfeige 69 Kornelkirsche 83 _Labiatae_ 84 Labkraut 89 _Latania borbonica_ 39 _Latania chinensis_ 39 _Laurus Tinus _ 90 _Liliaceae_ 56 _Livistona altissima_ 39 _Livistona australis_ 39 _Livistona chinensis_ 39 _Livistona Hoogendorpi_ 39 _Livistona oliviformis_ 39 _Livistona rotundifolia_ 39 _Maranta bicolor_ 68 _Maranta Lietzei_ 68 _Marantaceae_ 67 _Melastomataceae_ 77 _Monstera deliciosa_ 52 _Moraceae_ 69 _Musa Cavendishi_ 66 _Musa rosacea_ 66 _Musa zebrina_ 66 _Musaceac_ 66 _Myrtaceae_ 75 Myrte 75 _Myrtus communis_ 75 Nadelhölzer 33 _Nidularium_ 55 Palmen 36, 57 Palmlilien 58 _Pandanaceen_ 34 _Pandanus graminifolius_ 36 _Pandanus nitidus_ 36 _Pandanus utilis_ 36 _Pandanus Veitchi_ 36 Patschoulipflanze 84 _Peperomia argyraca_ 68 _Peperomia ariaefolia_ 68 _Peperomia marmorata_ 68 _Peperomia resedaeflora_ 68 Pfefferpflanze 68 _Philodendron bipinnatifidum_ 52 _Philodendron pertusum_ 52 _Phoenix_ 42 _Piperaceae_ 68 _Pitcairnia_ 55 _Platycerium alcicorne_ 26 _Plectogyne variegata_ 64 _Pogostemon Patschouli_ 84 _Polypodium aureum_ 25 _Pritchardia filifera_ 39 _Pritchardia robusta_ 39 _Pritchardia Sonorae_ 39 _Pteris argyraea_ 28 _Pteris cretica_ 27 _Pteris quadriaurita_ 28 _Pteris serrulata_ 27 _Pteris tricolor_ 28 _Ptychosperma...

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This book collects three essays Niels Bohr wrote between 1913 and 1921. It’s not a novel with a plot, but the story it tells is just as dramatic. Scientists had discovered that when you heat up an element, it gives off a very specific set of colored lights—like a fingerprint. No one could explain why atoms did this. Bohr had a bold idea: maybe electrons in an atom can only exist on specific "steps" or energy levels, and light is emitted when they jump down from a high step to a lower one. This simple but strange idea solved the mystery of those light patterns and completely changed how we see the tiny universe inside an atom.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because it lets you watch a genius at work. Bohr is building his theory right in front of you, admitting where he’s unsure and pointing out problems. It’s raw and real. You get a sense of how messy and creative scientific breakthroughs actually are, not just a polished final result. His writing is surprisingly clear for such complex ideas. You can feel his passion and his struggle to make sense of the evidence, which makes the eventual success of his model incredibly satisfying.

Final Verdict

This is for the curious reader who loves a good intellectual detective story. It’s perfect if you enjoyed books like ‘The Double Helix’ and want to see a similar ‘Eureka!’ moment in physics. While it helps to have a basic interest in science, Bohr explains things step-by-step. It’s a challenging but rewarding look at one of the most important ideas of the 20th century, straight from the source.

📜 Legacy Content

This book is widely considered to be in the public domain. Access is open to everyone around the world.