Question

Hughes and Wilson increased the sensitivity of an instrument detecting this process by applying a high voltage square wave in the first use of Stark modulation. The partition function of this process can be solved by using the Euler–Maclaurin formula and dividing by a symmetry factor sigma. Increasing or decreasing the rate of this process creates branches respectively named for the French words riche and pauvre. A (15[1])gas’ partition function contains a term equal to “k T over (*) B” representing the contribution of this process. The energy of this process in a diatomic molecule is proportional to j times j plus one in an idealized “rigid” model. Microwave spectroscopy observes modes corresponding to this process (-5[1])that couple to vibrational modes and experience centrifugal distortion. For 10 points, name this process that gives a molecule nonzero angular momentum. ■END■ (10[2])

ANSWER: molecular rotation [or synonyms like spinning; accept rigid rotor; prompt on ro-vibrational transitions; reject “bond rotation”]
<Science - Chemistry>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Adam Silverman|madam|Import Pandas6615
Sam/Cypress MacchiPahkin' the AhgoBanned from ARGOS114-5
Jaimie CarlsonBanned from ARGOSPahkin' the Ahgo13710
Jordan Brownstein"Powers a question on Stancyzk" that's a clown question broHu up Jinning they Tao13710

Summary

2024 ARGOS @ Brandeis03/22/2025Y3100%33%33%113.33
2024 ARGOS Online03/22/2025Y3100%0%33%121.67