what is quantum theory?

Question

i want to know abt the theory in a eazy-to-understand way as i am not a science student and i have difficulty in understanding scientific terms.

Answer 1

Quantum theory is the theoretical basis of modern physics that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level. In 1900, physicist Max Planck presented his quantum theory to the German Physical Society. Planck had sought to discover the reason that radiation from a glowing body changes in color from red, to orange, and, finally, to blue as its temperature rises. He found that by making the assumption that energy existed in individual units in the same way that matter does, rather than just as a constant electromagnetic wave - as had been formerly assumed - and was therefore quantifiable, he could find the answer to his question. The existence of these units became the first assumption of quantum theory.

Planck wrote a mathematical equation involving a figure to represent these individual units of energy, which he called quanta. The equation explained the phenomenon very well; Planck found that at certain discrete temperature levels (exact multiples of a basic minimum value), energy from a glowing body will occupy different areas of the color spectrum. Planck assumed there was a theory yet to emerge from the discovery of quanta, but, in fact, their very existence implied a completely new and fundamental understanding of the laws of nature. Planck won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his theory in 1918, but developments by various scientists over a thirty-year period all contributed to the modern understanding of quantum theory.

Answer 2

Physics developed as people made observations and measurements on a human scale. It all made sense. The earth orbits the sun. Apply a tiny force to the earth and you make a tiny change to its velocity and orbit. You could calculate the exact effect, and your measurements matched your calculations, within the accuracy limits of your measurements.

Einstein figured out that at extreme speeds, this isn't quite true. He proposed relativity to explain that.

As you reduce the distance scale, people also noticed this was no longer true. No matter how you added or removed energy from an atom, the orbiting electrons would take only certain orbital paths (and therefore only certain energy levels). All photons emitted by a hydrogen atom had one of a very small number of possible energies (therefore wavelengths). Thus the concept of quantum mechanics.

Divide an inch in half and you get .5 inches. Do it again and you get .25 inches. Mathematically, you could do this forever. Quantum mechanics says you couldn't subdivide lower than the Planck length, about 1.6 x 10^-35 meters. The same is true for time.

Quantum physics is the science of figuring out all the implications of this. Most of the work toward a unified field theory, a 'theory of everything', superstring theory, and quantum gravity is trying to figure out one set of physical laws that consistently applies at all three scales, human (classical), huge (relativistic), and tiny (quantum).

Answer 3

Quantum idea is the theoretical foundation of present day physics that explains the nature and behaviour of count and potential on the atomic and subatomic aspect. In 1900, physicist Max Planck presented his quantum idea to the German actual Society. Planck had sought to discover the reason that radiation from a gleaming body adjustments in colour from pink, to orange, and, finally, to blue as its temperature rises. He got here upon that by technique of creating the conception that potential existed in man or woman contraptions interior the same way that count does, in place of merely as a consistent electromagnetic wave - as were earlier assumed - and develop into for this reason quantifiable, he ought to discover the answer to his question. The lifestyles of those contraptions grew to develop into the first assumption of quantum idea.

Answer 4

The concept is that energy comes in packets. Just like the smallest currency when talking about the US dollar is the penny. The smallest packet when talking about energy is a quantum. It is a whole number. You can not have half a quantum. It is either 1 or nothing.