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John Tyndall

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    Born: August 2nd, 1820. Died: December 4th 1893.

  • Diamagnetism

    Diamagnetism
    Tyndall opposed many other physicists in diamagnetism findings; like Faraday and Plücker. Tyndall confirmed that the optic axis was not the main concern in determining in how the magnet would react. Basically summing it up Tyndall disproved multiple physicists proving that it was not the crystal structures but the magnetic forces causing the changes. Why was this so important? This got Tyndall basically roadmapped to success in becoming a part of The Royal Institution.
  • Spectrophotometer

    Spectrophotometer
    Tyndall created the first ratio spectrophotometer, which aided in his experimentation of measuring gasses absorption. This helped Tyndall study and understand the different properties of the gasses in our atmosphere and the radiative properties of said gasses. He was able to differentiate the gasses and all of the distinct properties that go along with them. An example of this; Tyndall found that Oxygen Hydrogen and Nitrogen were all able to be seen through unlike the other gasses found.
  • Greenhouse Effect

    Greenhouse Effect
    Tyndall used his spectrophotometer to measure the ability of our atmospheric gasses to absorb heat. His results were that Oxygen and Nitrogen absorbed almost none of the radiation that passes through them. But, Tyndall found that smaller compounds in our atmosphere like CO2 absorbed over 80% of the radiation. Why is this important? Because without the greenhouse effect essentially the Earth would not be holding onto any of the heat that passes through the atmosphere, leaving our Earth freezing!
  • "Tyndall Effect"

    "Tyndall Effect"
    Why is the sky blue? Why does the sky get more red? These are all questions Tyndall himself answered for us to know today as the "Tyndall Effect". Tyndall used a long tube shown in the picture and filled it with smoke while shining beams of light through it. He discovered that the light appeared blue from the side but red from farther away. He then hypothesized and confirmed that the color of the light is a direct response from the sun moving around different particles in Earths atmosphere.