Gustav Kirchhoff
Gustav Kirchhoff
Born	(1824-03-12)12 March 1824 Königsberg, Kingdom of Prussia
Died	17 October 1887(1887-10-17) (aged 63) Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
Nationality	Prussian
Alma mater	University of Königsberg
Known for	Kirchhoff's circuit laws Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation Kirchhoff's laws of spectroscopy Kirchhoff's law of thermochemistry
Awards	Rumford medal
Scientific career
Fields	Physics
Institutions	University of Berlin University of Breslau University of Heidelberg

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.

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. view more...