Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer [720p]

This short video explains the basics of the quadrupole mass spectrometer.

What do you do if you have a sample from another planet, and you want to find out if it contains a certain molecule... maybe even one that will reveal that the planet can sustain life? When scientists face a situation like this, they employ an amazing tool: the mass spectrometer. It does the hard work of separating out materials, allowing scientists to look very closely at a sample and see what's inside. Learn more about this tool in the video and animation below!

credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

source: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?10620

Category:

Science & Technology