2007-05-07 10:26:54 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
There's a simple one that anyone can do. Try to balance an object with a sharp point on a hard surface, such as an icepick on a granite counter top. The time that it will remain balanced can be estimated from the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. To be balanced the center of mass must lie directly over the point and it must have no momentum in the horizontal direction. This is impossible to do because of the uncertainty principle. Maximum balance times are limited to just a few seconds. Of course if it has a flat bottom (not a point) or the surface is not hard (like wood) then the uncertainty principle will not apply.
2007-05-07 13:10:06 · answer #1 · answered by pegminer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Millikan's oil drop experiment would certainly count as small, and while the equipment was rather strange, it was quite simple. You will recall that this was an experiment that demonstrated the indivisibility of the quantity e of electrical charge, and therefore that electricity was a "quantum" phenomenon.
These days, every time you turn on an LED you are observing quantum mechanics in action.
2007-05-08 04:13:53 · answer #2 · answered by drift::words 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy is quantum stuff in action - the probability of the electron jumping the gap should be nearly impossible as given by the particle in a box equation but it does happen due to tunneling effects. It enables us to almost 'see' atoms on surfaces and makes cool pictures (if you are a chemist).
2007-05-09 14:51:09 · answer #3 · answered by Alex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was digging my garden the other day, and the wife said It looked like a black hole. Well I checked it out.and was sucked in. Ended up back here . Is that a quantam leap?.
2007-05-07 21:04:02 · answer #4 · answered by raybbies 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I managed to accelerate a microstatic electron past the speed of light using a neutron blaster, which had the knock on effect of causing a subatomic time lapse
2007-05-07 17:36:05 · answer #5 · answered by jackie j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I quite often re-create the Schrodingers Cat experiment with my hamster(s) and a small tuppaware box.
Also explore string theory using tinned spaghetti.
2007-05-07 17:34:56 · answer #6 · answered by The Wandering Blade 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ye i have i got the little bit of (americium) from smok detector
put it in a lead pelet with a tiny hole so gamma+beta rays can escape all this went in a small box painted black inside
a peace of photografic paper was put at one end and left for one hour then developed great stuff.
also check out (brownian motion)
2007-05-09 18:09:46 · answer #7 · answered by 137 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋