Resonance in Atoms

From the greenhouse effect to MRI

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Molecules absorb light at their natural vibration frequencies.
• Protons in a field $B$ resonate at $42.58$ MHz per tesla: the basis of MRI.
• Field gradients turn frequency into position to build an image.

Steps

1. Molecules have natural frequencies
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Microwave ovens
4. Magnetic resonance
5. Set the scanner
6. A standard scanner
7. Making an image