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I have a question about quantum physics
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by
on 2008-06-21 11:45:51 |
Can anybody tell me what quantum physics are? I don't get it. All the definitions I've found don't really help. They get me more confused. (Um, please keep in mind I'm a seventh grader, and so we don't take physics yet.) Just a simple explanation is all I need. Like what it is.  |
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Re: I have a question about quantum physics
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by kudoushinichi
on 2008-06-21 19:02:43
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Simple explanation? Quantum Physics is physics about the atomic world. In the atomic world, things doesn't seem to work out like how we understood how the macroscopic world works. Therefore, Quantum Physics soughts to explain the many strange phenomena when we go very small. For example, before Quantum Physics was theorized, it was believed that light is a wave. But when applied to certain phenomena in the Quantum World (world of the very tiny), the theory that light is a wave doesn't work very well. Hence the Quantum Theory is created to explain light's strange behavior in the tiny atomic world. Now with Quantum Physics, light is better understood as particles rather than waves. In short, you'll have to go through classical physics before you can have a better understanding of quantum physics. When I was your age, I wonder about quantum physics as well. And the only thing I understood was 'it's to explain stuff happening in the atom'. As for now, this explanation should suffice. Unless you really want to know more, then you should start reading physics books...
Shinjitsu wa itsumo hitotsu!
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Re: I have a question about quantum physics
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Butterfly, on not so rigid terms, the motion of objects can be expressed through mathematical formulae, equations. When the scale of objects are close or even below the atomic level, you use the principles and tools of quantum physics to explain their motion, their behavior. Therefore, quantum physics is a branch of physics that is concerned to the study objects at those dimensions. |
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Re: I have a question about quantum physics
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by
on 2008-06-22 12:00:15 |
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thanks. I was just killing time. ^^ |
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Re: I have a question about quantum physics
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Classical Newtonian physics (with basic Hamiltonian knowledge), Advanced calculus, Advanced linear algebra with Fourier analysis are needed to fully enter the realms of quantum physics...so if you are not a physics or math student at least in pre-university level, it's okay if you don't understand it. Few people actually does... In short, quantum physics allows you to model, describe and study the behaviours of nature in the atomic and sub-atomic level. Beware, things in the elementary particle scale is COMPELTELY different from the macroscopic world (the world at human scale) we know of. Very very weird and controversial (and cool)stuffs happens, like superposition of states, quantum teleportation (very recent breakthrough), observer effect.... It also introduces the revolutionary idea of the nature of measurement itself, of probability. The harder thing in all advanced physics is not the concept but the terminology. If you go on Wiki, you will be faced with hundreds of professional terms that must be understood. Many ordinary everyday terms in quantum physics mean very specific things (i.e. event, state, Basically, just like all theoretical physics, quantum physics studies the very fabric of the universe and the very fabric of the laws that govern it (not completely true though)... Quantum physics will enventually allow quantum computers, with inimaginable computational power (they keep discovering new ways to harness this field of physics). REmember, all branch of science starts out as theoretical and as soon as we better understands it, it will start to have applications. Right now, we are at the turning point of quantum physics. In a few decades, its concept will start being applied everywhere (ESPECIALLY in computers) with the required technology to build them...As a general law, techonology and science evolves as a whole and never seperately....How can I make quantum computers if I don't have the manufacturing technology necessary? |