Gustav Kirchhoff

Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (12 March 1824 – 17 October 1887) was a German physicist who contributed to the fundamental understanding of electrical circuits, spectroscopy, and radiation by heated objects. He coined the term black body radiation in 1862.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). 

He proposed two sets of independent concepts in both circuit theory and thermal emission. They are all called '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.

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Category:1824 births
Category:1887 deaths
Category:German inventors
Category:German physicists
Category:People from former German territories
Category:People from Kaliningrad