What is quantum mechanics?

Answer 1

QM is a fundamental branch of theoretical physics that replaces classical mechanics and classical electromagnetism at the atomic and subatomic levels. It is the underlying mathematical framework of many fields of physics and chemistry, including condensed matter physics, atomic physics, molecular physics, computational chemistry, quantum chemistry, particle physics, and nuclear physics. Along with general relativity, quantum mechanics is one of the pillars of modern physics.

Answer 2

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental branch of theoretical physics that replaces classical mechanics and classical electromagnetism at the atomic and subatomic levels. It is the underlying mathematical framework of many fields of physics and chemistry, including condensed matter physics, atomic physics, molecular physics, computational chemistry, quantum chemistry, particle physics, and nuclear physics. Along with general relativity, quantum mechanics is one of the pillars of modern physics.

Quantum mechanics is a more fundamental theory than Newtonian mechanics and classical electromagnetism, in the sense that it provides accurate and precise descriptions for many phenomena that these "classical" theories simply cannot explain on the atomic and subatomic level. It is necessary to use quantum mechanics to understand the behavior of systems at atomic length scales and smaller. For example, if Newtonian mechanics governed the workings of an atom, electrons would rapidly travel towards and collide with the nucleus. However, in the natural world the electron normally remains in a stable orbit around a nucleus -- seemingly defying classical electromagnetism.

Quantum mechanics was initially developed to explain the atom, especially the spectra of light emitted by different atomic species. The quantum theory of the atom developed as an explanation for the electron's staying in its orbital, which could not be explained by Newton's laws of motion and by classical electromagnetism

Answer 3

Quantum mechanics is the study of probability in the sub-atomic world. It says that particles and energy don't just have a fixed position, but many positions within a certain area. Quantum mechanics have overcome the fact that as one tries to find the position of say an electron, as they come closer to where it is, they get farther away from what a particle's velocity is, and vice-versa.

Answer 4

I checked out the site that Albert S.posted, wow, just a tad over me ol' head. I read a book once called ''The Dancing Wo Le Masters'', Wo Le might be spelled wrong it's been awhile since I read it. They broke things down for the lay person and a few of the examples they gave I do remember. If you have a gram of radio active material, in it's half life half would be gone, that's predictable, whats not is what atoms will go, that's unpredictable. Another one, at a intersection in a large city every day at a certain time 40% of the cars will make a right hand turn, thats predictable, whats not is which ones will turn.My understanding is that it's a way to put the random into the equation with some certainty by knowing how to look for it. What I understand about Einstein is he couldn't handle the fact of the randomness and unpredictability of things and till the day he died tried to disprove it.

Answer 5

Here is a website that explain what it is.