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Explore atomic structure and nuclear fission in this 59-minute Christmas Lecture from The Royal Institution's historic 1979 series. Delve into the fundamental building blocks of matter as Eric Rogers demonstrates how atoms are constructed and explains the process of extracting energy through nuclear fission. Learn about the relatively recent scientific understanding of atomic structure, which developed over just the past few centuries due to the indirect nature of atomic research and the need for specialized equipment like vacuum pumps and high-voltage electronic supplies. Experience hands-on experimental demonstrations that bring abstract atomic concepts to life, providing tangible illustrations of phenomena that are normally invisible to the naked eye. Understand how scientists use imaginative models to describe atomic behavior and witness the "circus of experiments" designed to give viewers a friendly, first-hand acquaintance with atomic physics. Discover the technological advances that made modern atomic research possible and gain confidence in understanding these fundamental scientific principles through visual demonstrations rather than purely theoretical explanations.
