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Quantum Mechanics is inherently difficult to understand.
In fact the well known physicist Richard Feynman, an expert on Quantum Mechanics, said: "It is safe to say that nobody understands Quantum Mechanics."
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoAs you can imagine that is a really big question.
The truth is that physicists are in general agreement that no one really understands quantum mechanics.
However I will give you something to imagine that is kind of close to the facts.
As you know, in the past we have imagined the electron orbiting around the nucleus. It turns out that that is not what is happening, in fact in quantum mechanics you are not allowed to imagine any particle traveling in a distinct path. In the case of an electron inside of an atom, something that you can imagine that is a little bit closer to the truth is thinking of the electron 'teleporting' around in the area of the nucleus. To make things even stranger, since according to relativity, space and time are not distinct you have to imagine the electron also teleporting through time. I need to stress that no one understands what is really happening and this 'teleporting' stuff is only a 'stop gap' thing to imagine, given that no one knows what else to imagine.
Physicists are confussed by quantum mechanics because it seems to contradict what we believe is possible. That is to say it goes against our notion of causality.
In the case of an electron or some other particle traveling over a long distance through space what you can do is imagine it teleporting within a small region of space and that small region moving over a long distance. For example, think of a pulse on a string traveling down the string, now imagine the electron teleporting within the region of the pulse as it moves.
In fact this example is useful when it comes to trying to integrate the idea of an electron having both particle and wave characteristics. That is to say imagine the pulse not being a single pulse but instead being a short wave train that has a more or less distinct wavelength.
Wikipedia has an article called "Introduction to quantum mechanics" that you may be interested in. Go to the related links below.
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Can anyone explain the quantum theory?
Richard Feynman stated once that "if you think you understand quantum mechanics then you don't understand quantum mechanics". However it is possible to learn how to write and solve the equations of quantum mechanics to get answers that can be verified experimentally.
Did Einstein study quantum mechanics?
actually einstein developed one of the earliest parts of quantum mechanics: the theory of the photoelectric effect. he worked directly with many of the scientists that later developed the complete theory of quantum mechanics and the mathematics to solve its apparent paradoxes to get usable predictions from the theory. later he rejected it due to it being nondeterministic, not because he didn't understand quantum mechanics but because he did understand quantum mechanics. he then tried to combine quantum mechanics and general relativity, hoping the resulting unified field theory would resolve the nondeterminism of quantum mechanics, resulting in a single fully deterministic theory of everything.
The quantum medanical model is called the?
The quantum mechanical model is called the quantum theory.
What are some of the most popular theories in quantum mechanics?
The most known theory in quantum mechanics would be the Broglie-Bohm theory. Other popular theories are the string theory, quantum entanglement, and SchrÌ_dinger's cat.
How many quantum numbers are there in quantum theory?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_number
Can anyone explain the quantum theory?
Richard Feynman stated once that "if you think you understand quantum mechanics then you don't understand quantum mechanics". However it is possible to learn how to write and solve the equations of quantum mechanics to get answers that can be verified experimentally.
Derive quantum theory?
Not sure what you mean by "derive" quantum theory; that's along the lines of "deriving" gravity. In our Universe, quantum theory is the only one we've developed that matches experimental evidence. In all cases, quantum theory was developed mathematically simply because no other explanation existed that would match what occurs in our Universe. Whether we like it or not, whether we really understand it or not, we are in a Universe that obeys quantum theory.
Did Einstein study quantum mechanics?
actually einstein developed one of the earliest parts of quantum mechanics: the theory of the photoelectric effect. he worked directly with many of the scientists that later developed the complete theory of quantum mechanics and the mathematics to solve its apparent paradoxes to get usable predictions from the theory. later he rejected it due to it being nondeterministic, not because he didn't understand quantum mechanics but because he did understand quantum mechanics. he then tried to combine quantum mechanics and general relativity, hoping the resulting unified field theory would resolve the nondeterminism of quantum mechanics, resulting in a single fully deterministic theory of everything.
What has the author Stephen L Adler written?
Stephen L. Adler has written: 'Quantum Theory as an Emergent Phenomenon' -- subject(s): Quantum theory 'Quaternionic quantum mechanics and quantum fields' -- subject(s): Quantum theory, Quaternions, Mathematical physics, Quantum field theory
What has the author Rudolf Haag written?
Rudolf Haag has written: 'Local quantum physics' -- subject(s): Quantum field theory, Quantum theory 'On quantum field theories' -- subject(s): Quantum theory
What has the author Heinrich Saller written?
Heinrich Saller has written: 'Operational Quantum Theory I' 'Operational quantum theory' -- subject(s): Mathematics, Quantum theory
Who founded the quantum theory?
The original founder of quantum theory was Max Plank. The basic theory has been improved upon many times but there hasn't been a 'Modern Quantum Theory' that replaces the old.
Who founded the modern quantum theory?
The original founder of quantum theory was Max Plank. The basic theory has been improved upon many times but there hasn't been a 'Modern Quantum Theory' that replaces the old.
Who is the founders of quantum theory?
Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck is regarded as the founder of the quantum theory.
The quantum medanical model is called the?
The quantum mechanical model is called the quantum theory.
What experiment was used to discover the quantum theory?
Quantum theory was not the result of a single experiment, a single discovery, or even a single scientist. Quantum theory evolved gradually, over several decades.
What are some of the most popular theories in quantum mechanics?
The most known theory in quantum mechanics would be the Broglie-Bohm theory. Other popular theories are the string theory, quantum entanglement, and SchrÌ_dinger's cat.
