The A B C of atoms

audiobook

The A B C of atoms

by Bertrand Russell

EN·~3 hours·15 chapters

Chapters

15 total
1

THE A B C OF ATOMS

0:25
2

I. INTRODUCTORY

12:24
3

II. THE PERIODIC LAW

13:46
4

III. ELECTRONS AND NUCLEI

17:59
5

IV. THE HYDROGEN SPECTRUM

16:58
6

V. POSSIBLE STATES OF THE HYDROGEN ATOM

13:12
7

VI. THE THEORY OF QUANTA

14:22
8

VII. REFINEMENTS OF THE HYDROGEN SPECTRUM

16:13
9

VIII. RINGS OF ELECTRONS

13:43
10

IX. X-RAYS

13:52

Description

Imagine that the solid chair you sit on is more like a net of tiny knots than a continuous block. This audio work unravels that illusion, showing how ordinary matter is actually a vast collection of minuscule particles. Using familiar images—solar systems for atoms, strings for bonds—the narrator guides listeners from the familiar to the astonishingly small.

The journey continues with clear explanations of molecules, atoms, electrons, and nuclei, illustrating how a gram of hydrogen contains a staggering number of invisible units. You’ll hear vivid comparisons of sizes, from the hundred‑millionth‑of‑a‑centimetre hydrogen atom to the even tinier electron and nucleus. Along the way, the book reveals how modern physics has managed to measure and even “see” these realms, turning abstract theory into tangible insight.

Written in a conversational tone, the work balances philosophical curiosity with rigorous science, making it ideal for anyone who has ever wondered what the world is truly made of. Whether you’re a lifelong science enthusiast or a newcomer, the audio guide invites you to explore the hidden architecture of reality, one atom at a time.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (192K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Original publisher

New York: E. P. Dutton & company, 1923.

Credits

Laura Natal Rodrigues (Images generously made available by Hathi Trust Digital Library.)

Release date

2024-02-05

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell

1872–1970

A brilliant philosopher and logician who also became one of the 20th century’s best-known public intellectuals, writing with unusual clarity about mathematics, ethics, politics, and everyday life. His work helped shape modern analytic philosophy, while his outspoken campaigns for peace and freedom of thought made him famous far beyond the classroom.

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