What is Gustav Kirchhoff?
{{Infobox scientist | name = Gustav Kirchhoff | image = Gustav Robert Kirchhoff.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Gustav Kirchhoff | birth_date = {{birth date|1824|3|12|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Königsberg]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1887|10|17|1824|3|12|df=y}} | death_place = [[Berlin]], [[Kingdom of Prussia]] | nationality = [[Prussian]] | field = [[Physics]] | work_institutions = [[University of Berlin]] <br> [[University of Breslau]] <br> [[University of Heidelberg]] | alma_mater = [[University of Königsberg]] | doctoral_advisor = [[Franz Ernst Neumann]] | doctoral_students = | known_for = [[Kirchhoff's circuit laws]] <br> [[Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation]] <br>Kirchhoff's laws of spectroscopy<br>Kirchhoff's law of thermochemistry | prizes = [[Rumford medal]]}} '''Gustav Robert Kirchhoff''' (12 March 1824&nbsp;– 17 October 1887) was a [[Germans|German]] [[physicist]] who contributed to the fundamental understanding of [[electrical circuit]]s, [[spectroscopy]], and [[radiation]] by heated objects. He coined the term [[Thermal radiation|black body radiation]] in 1862.<ref>A 'black body' is an idealised physical body which absorbs all [[electromagnetic radiation]] which strikes it, and reflects none. It is also the best possible emitter of thermal radiation (heat).</ref> He proposed two sets of independent concepts in both circuit theory and thermal emission. They are all called '[[Kirchhoff's laws (disambiguation)|Kirchhoff's laws]]' after him, as well as a law of [[thermochemistry]]. The [[Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award]] for spectroscopy is named after him and his colleague, [[Robert Bunsen]]. He also discovered [[rubidium]] with Bunsen in 1861. == References == {{Reflist}} {{bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirchhoff, Gustav}} [[Category:1824 births]] [[Category:1887 deaths]] [[Category:German inventors]] [[Category:German physicists]] [[Category:People from former German territories]] [[Category:People from Kaliningrad]]