ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rotational spectroscopy

Have you ever spun a toy top or a fidget spinner and noticed how it looks like it's moving in a circle? Well, scientists study how molecules move and spin in a similar way. They use a special type of spectroscopy called rotational spectroscopy to do this.

Just like how different toys spin at different speeds, molecules also spin at different speeds. Rotational spectroscopy measures these speeds and studies the rotational energy of molecules. This helps scientists to understand the structure and properties of molecules, and how they interact with other molecules.

Imagine if you had a toy top made up of individual smaller parts, like Lego blocks. These blocks spin around the top's center. Scientists can use rotational spectroscopy to see how fast these blocks are spinning and how far apart they are from each other. This helps scientists to determine the shape and size of the molecule.

In summary, rotational spectroscopy is like watching how a toy spins, but with molecules. It helps scientists understand how molecules move, spin and interact with other molecules, which can be used in many scientific fields such as chemistry, physics and biology.