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The invisible motion of still objects - Ran Tivony

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Many of the inanimate objects around you probably seem perfectly still. But look deep into the atomic structure of any of them, and you’ll see a world in constant flux — with stretching, contracting, springing, jittering, drifting atoms everywhere. Ran Tivony describes how and why molecular movement occurs and investigates if it might ever stop.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Ran Tivony
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Producer Zedem Media
  • Director Michael Kalopaidis
  • Animator Andria Pourouti
  • Artist Christina Kalli
  • Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Want to learn a bit more about molecular vibration? Visit this link and take a look. The UCAR Center for Science Education provides some great graphics of vibrating molecules that will serve as supplements to this lesson. Visit the site and see Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide in motion. 

Ever wonder how molecules move in solids, liquids and gases? Visit this site and take a look at the images provided and read about the packing and movement of molecules in each of these states of matter. Veritasium also has a great lesson on States of Matter. How does the packing molecules and their movement in a solid differ from those in a gas or a liquid? Could you explain it to a friend?

"Absolute zero": What does that mean? Can you define it? PBS Nova provides some great resources about absolute zero. Visit the site, scroll through it, and take a look at all the information provided. Next, watch and learn from Hank Green and the SciShow’s Absolute Zero: Absolute Awesome video.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Ran Tivony
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Producer Zedem Media
  • Director Michael Kalopaidis
  • Animator Andria Pourouti
  • Artist Christina Kalli
  • Sound Designer Andreas Trachonitis
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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