Author: Sabbir Hossain
Science enthusiast and science writer
Quantum mechanics, or quantum physics, is a branch of modern physics that describes the behavior of matter at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles/waves.
It is designed to understand the world of tiny particles (such as: electrons, protons, photons)
Newton’s theories do not work here.
Main Features:
- An electron sometimes behaves like a particle, sometimes like a wave (wave-particle duality).
Example: If you fire an electron at some slits, it can go through multiple slits at the same time—as long as you’re not observing it.
- You can never know both the position and momentum of a particle at the same time with complete accuracy.
- Particles exist in probable states, not in definite positions.
- A particle can exist in multiple states simultaneously—until you measure it.
- Two particles can be so connected that a change in one instantly affects the other—even if they are on different planets.
Fundamental Basis of Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanics stands on three irrefutable principles of physics. These are—
- The principle of quantization of energy
- De Broglie’s wave-particle duality
- Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
History of Quantum Mechanics
We usually mention Max Planck as the founder of quantum theory. However, it was expanded by scientist Albert Einstein.
The actual formation of quantum mechanics began with Bohr’s atomic model. When in Bohr’s model the angular momentum of an electron orbiting in any shell was taken as a multiple of h/2π, quantum mechanics truly began. But this quantum mechanics was not yet fully developed.
All matter is composed of tiny molecules and atoms. They are so small that they cannot be seen even under a microscope. And if they cannot be seen, how can we discuss their movements and properties?
To solve these problems, Albert Einstein suggested that for any object whose motion cannot practically be experimented upon, if one can conceive an experiment strictly following the laws of classical mechanics in thought, then it should be recognized as a “thought experiment.”
Again, if we try to do an actual experiment and observe an electron through a spectroscope, the moment we try to determine its momentum, its position will have changed. In other words, if we try to determine both an electron’s position and momentum at the same time, some error will occur.
In scientific terms, this is called “uncertainty.” From here, electrons and other small particles were taken out of the framework of classical mechanics, and a new branch of mechanics began to study them—which was later called quantum mechanics.
Reference
affordablecarsales.co.nz
Leave a comment