Thread: Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a mathematical theory. It is the idea of particularly very very small particles.
We are trying to rationalize how these small things work, or react. We do think, like past generations and their scientific break thoughs, that quanta will lead us into an entirely different set of ideas and principles.

I think it is exciting. Who knows what we can uncover.

That some of what I know off the top of my head.
All the rest floating arounf in my head is not specific enough to post -- crappy memory and all.

have you seen this video? http://youtube.com/watch?v=pSHlp9z3npI&feature=related


it's crazy... gave me goosebumps

All matter has a particle quality and a wave quality. The large an object the shorter the wave, which is why it's only noticeable at really tiny particles (electrons.) It explains why electrons can only stay within certain orbitals around the nucleus of the atom, they have to stay at a resonance frequency.

This wave/particle theory allows tiny particles to occupy two spaces at the same time.

All electrons have four quantum numbers, but none can have the same quantum number for the same atom, or else they would be at the same place at the same time, which is impossible.

Also watch these

6 part interview from 1981 with Richard Feynman
He won the 1965 Nobel prize for his work on quantum electrodynamics

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0XgmrMZ0h54 - Richard Feynman Interview #1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wwtbh6wcq78 - Richard Feynman Interview #2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-SfJEdkYVuc - Richard Feynman Interview #3
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hRAbke411Zw - Richard Feynman Interview #4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nh285sbO4gQ - Richard Feynman Interview #5
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OhXzK5RxvUg - Richard Feynman Interview #6

Here's a very easy read on the subject:

Taking the Quantum Leap.

Not comprehensive, and jumps to a few conclusions, but a good way to get a general idea of the concepts.

I wouldn't watch Yay's, that documentary is infamous for its inaccuracies and lies.

But yeah, quantum theory is as crazy as science gets and has some results that seem impossible, but if it weren't for quantum theory, we wouldn't have microchips, TVs, or pretty much any of our modern appliances. It has many applications in modern life.

Originally Posted by Xei

I wouldn't watch Yay's, that documentary is infamous for its inaccuracies and lies.

I've seen the documentary, and yes, it stretches a lot, makes unnessessary leaps of faith, and draws some conclusions that are really non-sequitors. However, I do love that little cartoon snippet from it. It pretty accurately describes the experiment in question.

Probably the easiest to follow book you can come across:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/...con+books%2527

Icon Books are great.

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Originally Posted by Xei

I wouldn't watch Yay's, that documentary is infamous for its inaccuracies and lies.

But yeah, quantum theory is as crazy as science gets and has some results that seem impossible, but if it weren't for quantum theory, we wouldn't have microchips, TVs, or pretty much any of our modern appliances. It has many applications in modern life.

I didn't know, sorry

Oh don't worry, I didn't mean to blame you or anything. Most documentaries don't tend to have agendas, but unfortunately that particular one just heaped together and twisted a large number of any facts which supported its spiritual ideas...

Originally Posted by Xei

we wouldn't have microchips, TVs, or pretty much any of our modern appliances. It has many applications in modern life.

Actually, microchips work on basic atomic theory. IBM has working prototypes of quantum computers, but they're not stable, excited electrons nearly immediately give off the excess energy, which is why refresh rates on TVs are so high.

As far as I can think there are only a few appliances that actually use quantum theory. CRTs (old monitors and televisions), florescent lights, leds, radios, microwaves.

Quantum theory is mostly used to produce light. An excited electron jumps to a higher energy level and as it drops back down it shoots out a single photon.

Why is this in the philosophy section? This is actual science.

Thanks for the links and info. It's in the philosophy section because I didn't know where else to put it.

Lucid_boy, hi.

I've been reading a book titled, The Elegant Universe. A very good book covering a bit more than quantum mechanics it encompasses string theory, general relativity, quantum geometry etc. You may find it enlightening.

Originally Posted by Lucid_boy

Thanks for the links and info. It's in the philosophy section because I didn't know where else to put it.

*Cough*AnotherReasonWhyWeShouldHaveAScienceForum*C ough*

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Originally Posted by taltho

Lucid_boy, hi.

I've been reading a book titled, The Elegant Universe. A very good book covering a bit more than quantum mechanics it encompasses string theory, general relativity, quantum geometry etc. You may find it enlightening.

This was also made into a two-part series, I think by the Discovery channel. I have it on DVD, and it's very well done.