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 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 (10[1])to j times j plus one in an idealized “rigid” model. (10[1])Microwave spectroscopy observes modes corresponding (10[1])to this process that couple to vibrational modes and experience (-5[1])centrifugal distortion. (10[1])For 10 points, name this process that gives a molecule nonzero angular momentum. ■END■ (10[1])

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

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Aaron Dos RemediosModerator Can't Neg me While in AlphaYou cannot go to Aarhus to see his peat-brown head / With eyes like ripening fruit9510
Jason ZhangShe Dicer On My Argonaute Till I RNA InterfereCommunism is Soviet power plus the yassification of the whole country10610
Benjamin ChapmanSimpson Agonistes: The Crisis of DonutI'd prefer to have the team name be Christensen et al. than anything that Erik cooks up 11110
Jananan ArulseelanThe Only Existing Manuscript from A Clockwork OrangeRyan Wesley Routh's 10 000 NATO-trained Afghan Quizbowlers121-5
Kunaal Chandrashekaras rational as the square root of two power bottomsTensei Shitara Flashcard Data Ken12310
Ishan JoshiRyan Wesley Routh's 10 000 NATO-trained Afghan QuizbowlersThe Only Existing Manuscript from A Clockwork Orange13710

Summary

2024 ARGOS @ Stanford02/22/2025Y3100%0%33%108.33
2024 ARGOS @ McMaster11/17/2024Y5100%0%20%114.40
2024 ARGOS @ Chicago11/23/2024Y6100%33%33%93.67
2024 ARGOS @ Columbia11/23/2024Y3100%0%0%128.00
2024 ARGOS @ Christ's College12/14/2024Y3100%0%0%103.33