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What is the significance of zero point energy in quantum mechanics?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIf you mean zero point energy, it is the lowest energy level that can be occupied by quantum mechanical system, also known as a ground state.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoIn quantum mechanics, zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy that a physical system could have. The energy is key to understanding the energy of a black hole.
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How does Schrodinger agrees with Heisenberg's principle?
They both describe the nature of the wave/particle duality They also both point to the uncertainty of quantum mechanics
What is classical particle?
Classical physics refers to the branch of Physics whereby energy and matter are two very different concepts. It is usually based on the theory of electromagnetic radiation and the laws of motion.
What does quanta mean?
Photons, because higher frequencies have more energy higher frequency light is more energetic. Flames are simply excited electron releasing energy in the form of light. Energy progresses from red to violet in terms of visible light because violet has shorter wave length and hence higher frequencies. Also note that in the science of quantum mechanics, all forms of matter, energy, space and time are divided into small packages called quanta. The whole point is that physical quantities, unlike mathematical quantities, are not infinitely subdivisible. There is a limit to how small something can be, and that limit is a quantum. EDIT: A nice answer, although it has nothing to do with the question. A quanta is the smallest unit of energy.
Explain the limitation to classical mechanics that gave rise to quantum mechanics?
1) Classical mechanics does not account for the fact that energy can only be exchanged by tiny packets of a given minimal energy. Therefore in classical mechanics the energy of a system can increase or decrease continuously, while in quantum mechanics it can only decrease and increase by tiny steps. 2) Classical mechanics does not account for the fact that particles behave like waves in some circumstances. Equivalently, one can talk about the introduction of the uncertainty principle that basiquely tells: "the more precisely you will measure a particle position, the less precisely you will measure its speed" and vice et versa. This is not seen as an observational limit due to the weakness of the instruments used or of the human operator, but as a fundamental one: nature seems to be built like that. Both points are usually not visible at our scale, where the tiny energy packets are infinitesimal for us, and the uncertainty principle seems to vanish under the influence of the many waves interfering with each others. Quantum mechanics experimentally emerges from point 1). By studying what is called "black bodies", that is to say bodies that (almost) perfectly absorb light (like charcoal for instance), scientists observed a discrepancy between their observations and the predictions of classical mechanics. Such bodies are them selves emitting a faint light, only due to the thermal agitation of their own particles. At high temperature, the light emission measurements was not predicted correctly by classical mechanics. Planck proposed a theoretical solution that seemed to succeed in predicting the observations, but he presented it in a quite shy manner because it was a strange hypothesis at that time: energy is exchanged by small quantities, not continuously. Einstein was inspired by this idea and took it a step further by postulating that light was composed of energy particles for explaining the photoelectric affect (Nobel prize for this). Concerning point 2), it might be even more adapted to say that sometimes waves are behaving like particles... Modern experiments are confirming one after the another the strangeness of uncertainties and de-localization of particles in the quantum world (that is to say: very tiny).
What is quantum tunelling?
Short Explanation:Quantum tunneling is one of the traditional examples of something that is permitted by quantum physics and is completely forbidden by classical physics and does indeed happen as quantum theory predicts. It is manifested only for small light particles where classical physics breaks down.When the motion of a particle is confined, usually by some potential energy barrier, it can not cross that barrier if it does not have a kinetic energy that is sufficient to exceed to potential energy requirements of the barrier. Quantum theory says that a quantum system prepared in one region that is separated from another by such a barrier can traverse the barrier even if it does not have sufficient kinetic energy. It does this by "quantum tunneling" and there is a finite probability that the particle can be detected in the region where the potential energy is actually greater than the kinetic energy.Perhaps a longer example and explanation:A "voltage" between two points represents the amount of energy per unit charge that is needed to move a charge particle between the two points. In other words, it takes twice as much energy to move a charged particle between two points of 10 volts than the same particle between 5 volts.The energy unit "electron-volt" (eV) is the amount of energy that is required to move one electron between a potential difference of one volt. It's a pretty small amount of energy.If there is a potential difference of 2 volts between two points, and an electron with kinetic energy of 3 eV reaches the first point, it has enough kinetic energy to get to the second point. However, if its kinetic energy is only 1 eV, then it does not have enought kinetic energy to do so. Certainly makes sense, right?Quantum tunneling is an unusual fact seen in sub-atomic interactions. Although this is VASTLY over-simplified, it basically states that an electron with LESS kinetic energy than that needed to overcome a voltage barrier (say, one with 1.99 eV of energy reaching a 2.00 volt barrier) has a certain probability of overcoming the barrier. The probability can be calculated, but ONLY the probability. In other words, we can never know for certain if a SPECIFIC particle will (or will not) get through the barrier, we can only calculate the probability of it doing so.This fact has been confirmed in experimental results, and agree completely in keeping with predictions. In classical mechanics, an electron either does or does not have enough energy to go through a barrier. In quantum mechanics, the electron has a certain probability of doing so.
How does Schrodinger agrees with Heisenberg's principle?
They both describe the nature of the wave/particle duality They also both point to the uncertainty of quantum mechanics
What is classical particle?
Classical physics refers to the branch of Physics whereby energy and matter are two very different concepts. It is usually based on the theory of electromagnetic radiation and the laws of motion.
What is point zero?
AnswerZero-point energy (not to be confused with Vacuum Energy) is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may have and is the energy of the ground state. This energy comes from the fact that after you remove all thermal and kinetic energy from an atom there is still quantum mechanical harmonic vibration that arises due to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. This energy, so far, can not be taken away from a system.
Why do electron contunuouslty move?
If you mean move around in "orbit" around the nucleus ...They don't. In quantum mechanics, forget everything you know from everyday experience about how objects behave, because quantum mechanics is WEIRD. One of my teachers once told me "nobody ever really understands quantum mechanics, they just get used to it." There's a fair amount of truth in that statement. Trying to picture it in your mind will only get you so far; at a certain point you just need to do the math and trust what it says even if it doesn't make any sense.
What does quanta mean?
Photons, because higher frequencies have more energy higher frequency light is more energetic. Flames are simply excited electron releasing energy in the form of light. Energy progresses from red to violet in terms of visible light because violet has shorter wave length and hence higher frequencies. Also note that in the science of quantum mechanics, all forms of matter, energy, space and time are divided into small packages called quanta. The whole point is that physical quantities, unlike mathematical quantities, are not infinitely subdivisible. There is a limit to how small something can be, and that limit is a quantum. EDIT: A nice answer, although it has nothing to do with the question. A quanta is the smallest unit of energy.
What does quantas?
Probably a mis-spelling of "quanta". This is the plural of "quantum" - the idea, in quantum theory, that many quantities in our Universe can't be subdivided indefinitely, but rather, they come in "discrete packets".Photons, because higher frequencies have more energy higher frequency light is more energetic. Flames are simply excited electron releasing energy in the form of light. Energy progresses from red to violet in terms of visible light because violet has shorter wave length and hence higher frequencies.Also note that in the science of quantum mechanics, all forms of matter, energy, space and time are divided into small packages called quanta. The whole point is that physical quantities, unlike mathematical quantities, are not infinitely subdivisible. There is a limit to how small something can be, and that limit is a quantum.
What is zero energy?
AnswerZero-point energy (not to be confused with Vacuum Energy) is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may have and is the energy of the ground state. This energy comes from the fact that after you remove all thermal and kinetic energy from an atom there is still quantum mechanical harmonic vibration that arises due to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. This energy, so far, can not be taken away from a system.
Will anyone please define the term space-energy?
Space-energy, also known as zero-point energy is the lowest possible energy that a quantum mechanical physical system may have and is the energy of the ground state, which is non-zero.
Explain the limitation to classical mechanics that gave rise to quantum mechanics?
1) Classical mechanics does not account for the fact that energy can only be exchanged by tiny packets of a given minimal energy. Therefore in classical mechanics the energy of a system can increase or decrease continuously, while in quantum mechanics it can only decrease and increase by tiny steps. 2) Classical mechanics does not account for the fact that particles behave like waves in some circumstances. Equivalently, one can talk about the introduction of the uncertainty principle that basiquely tells: "the more precisely you will measure a particle position, the less precisely you will measure its speed" and vice et versa. This is not seen as an observational limit due to the weakness of the instruments used or of the human operator, but as a fundamental one: nature seems to be built like that. Both points are usually not visible at our scale, where the tiny energy packets are infinitesimal for us, and the uncertainty principle seems to vanish under the influence of the many waves interfering with each others. Quantum mechanics experimentally emerges from point 1). By studying what is called "black bodies", that is to say bodies that (almost) perfectly absorb light (like charcoal for instance), scientists observed a discrepancy between their observations and the predictions of classical mechanics. Such bodies are them selves emitting a faint light, only due to the thermal agitation of their own particles. At high temperature, the light emission measurements was not predicted correctly by classical mechanics. Planck proposed a theoretical solution that seemed to succeed in predicting the observations, but he presented it in a quite shy manner because it was a strange hypothesis at that time: energy is exchanged by small quantities, not continuously. Einstein was inspired by this idea and took it a step further by postulating that light was composed of energy particles for explaining the photoelectric affect (Nobel prize for this). Concerning point 2), it might be even more adapted to say that sometimes waves are behaving like particles... Modern experiments are confirming one after the another the strangeness of uncertainties and de-localization of particles in the quantum world (that is to say: very tiny).
Is there any correlation between heat death and zero point energy?
The short answer is simple: no. The more advanced answer is this: the two have very little to do with each other. "Heat death" is a concept first proposed by William Thomson (aka Lord Kelvin). It surmises that our Universe will eventually reach a point of complete thermal equilibrium, a time after which no energy can be transferred from one point to another. Thus, no motion, and certainly no life, could exist. The idea is now discredited due to our knowledge of black holes, which make such an equilibrium impossible -- a large chunk of matter in our Universe will eventually end up in these objects, thus preventing much exchange of thermal energy between them. Thus, these objects never reach thermal equilibrium between each other. Thus, it is a concept based on thermodynamics, discredited due to general relativity. Zero point energy is a fact of our Universe that nothing in our Universe -- not even space completely devoid of matter -- can ever be at a zero energy level. Quantum mechanics requires that some energy MUST exist everywhere. The fact that some energy does exist in (otherwise) empty space has certain implications that can be experiementally measured -- these experiments have been carried out, and the results agree with the predictions of zero point energy. This scientific fact is based on quantum mechanics, and has no connection to either thermodynamics or general relativity.
Who used quantum mechanics to describe the location of the electron?
Max Born was the first to note that the Schroendinger Equation (SE) -- ONE way to approach quantum mechanics -- could be used to accurately predict the PROBABILITY of an electron being at a specific location, given that the electron was in a specific energy field that was well-defined for all locations. For example, the SE for a single electron, in its lowest state around a positive nucleus, shows (after a LOT of math) that the electron is MOST likely at a distance of one Bohr Radius from that nucleus. Born was the first to note that quantum mechanics could never say EXACTLY where the electron was at any one time, but that it could very accurately determine the PROBABILITY that it was at a specified point. Very ironically, Schroendinger himself never really accepted Born's idea. Werner Heisenberg, Max Born, & Pascual Jordan developed an alternate approach to quantum mechanics that used operators and matrix mechanics to give eigenvalues for variables such as position. It was FAR more complicated than the SE, but also has more application. Heisenberg was soon able to show that the SE and the approach he & his colleagues developed were essentially the same.
What is the temperature at which no more energy can be removed from matter?
Absolute zero. On the Kelvin scale of heat measurement, 0K is the point at which no more energy can be removed or −273.15°C / −459.67°F. There is not enough energy there at 0K to transfer any movement from the substance to another substance.
