What is quantum physics?

Question

in a nutshell or laymans terms can you tell me what quantum physics are or anything quantum because its so confusing!!!

Answer 1

erm, who would you rather trust? The worlds top physicists who have spent many many years studying how the universe works and make up some of the worlds greatests minds or tangoed? It is not mumbo jumbo as he says as parts of the theory have been tested and proven and other parts just work. Tangoed would not be writing his answer on his computer if quantum physics were 'mumbo jumbo'.

In a nutshell Quantum Theory/physics is the attempt to describe and explain how things work on atomic and sub atomic levels. Whilst physics works in a largely common sense and straight forward way on the large scale (ie: the universe, planets, solar systems, humans etc) it has been found that when you go down to the atomic levels things just dont work in the same way (and why should they?).

If you are really interested then i would suggest a book by John Gribben called 'schrodinger's kittens'. It is a fantastic read and will explain everything you need to know in laymens terms.

Answer 2

Quantum physics is a branch of science that deals with discrete, indivisible units of energy called quanta as described by the Quantum Theory. There are five main ideas represented in Quantum Theory:

Energy is not continuous, but comes in small but discrete units. 1
The elementary particles behave both like particles and like waves. 2
The movement of these particles is inherently random. 3
It is physically impossible to know both the position and the momentum of a particle at the same time. The more precisely one is known, the less precise the measurement of the other is.4
The atomic world is nothing like the world we live in. 5

Answer 3

Quantum Physics covers the realm of very, very small things. Atoms and sub-atomic particles are studied. Of course, the field has branched into the study of the Theory of Everything, which encompasses more than just the very, very small.

Go to YouTube and watch the 3 part series (each part has about 5 sub-parts) of the PBS show called "The Elegant Universe", based on the book of the same name by Brian Green.

Answer 4

Hi Nuff; I personally feel, with absolutely no scientific proof, that each and every decision we make every day presents an opportunity for an alternate ( or parallel universe). I subscribe to the Robert A. Heinlein theory, Probably before your time but, a great fiction writer. Try "The Number Of The Beast" or "Stranger In A Strange Land"Good light fun reads. But time is a serious subject, and one I'm afraid I have very fixed notions upon. As I believe God created it,and holds it until, as you might say the time is right, and man must go forward only, living each moment to the fullest, as there is no going back. "The past is history, the future a mystery, we can only live in the now." But to punch a hole into an alternate universe, will probably happen one day, what happens next? Well that will be a whole different universe again. LOL Have fun with this one! Bob

Answer 5

In a nutshell, quantum physics is a brach of theoretical physics that gives accurate and precise explanations of the phenomena of particle behavior at atomic and subatomic levels.

Answer 6

If we could explain it in one paragraph, do you think that we would be answering questions on Yahoo? Or that we would give it away for two Yahoo points? Would you mind passing that pipe around?

Here is what Google says, to begin with.

Amazon.com: Quantum Physics: A Beginner's Guide: Books: Alastair I. M. Rae by ... Taking the Quantum Leap: The New Physics for Nonscientists by Fred A. Wolf ...www.amazon.com/Quantum-Physics-Beginners-Alastair-Rae/dp/1851683690 - 150k - Cached - More from this site
Amazon.co.uk: Quantum Physics: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides ...
Amazon.co.uk: Quantum Physics: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides): Books: Alastair I.M. Rae by Alastair I.M. Rae ... interpretation for quantum mechanics. ...www.amazon.co.uk/Quantum-Physics-Beginners-Guide-Guides/dp/1851683690 - 88k - Cached - More from this site
New Scientist - Quantum World
... thought of as cures for stubborn problems, quantum physics was the wonder drug ... many researchers, thinks it can, especially where quantum physics is concerned ...www.newscientist.com/channel/fundamentals/quantum-world - 80k - Cached - More from this site
Quantum Physics A Beginners Guide To the Subatomic World - SHOP.COM
Shop for Quantum Physics A Beginners Guide To the Subatomic World at Shop.com. ... 6.99 - quantum physics a beginners guide to the subatomic world the essential ...www.shop.com/op/aprod-p55026454 - More from this site
Theoretical Physics

Answer 7

The study of physics on a very small scale.

Levers, inclined planes, heat transfer, electricity, motion, etc, all can be studied on a larger scale using objects we can see and handle and manipulate. Quantum physics deals with items on the atomic and subatomic scale. Think of protons, neutrons, quarks, mesons, bosuns, and other bits so small that bacteria can't see them in their own tiny little microscopes... :-)

Answer 8

It's the study of things at the sub-atomic level where the laws of physics as described by General Relativity can not be applied.

Answer 9

tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny ikkle pieces of the universe that makes up everything around us. for a pleasant image in your head imagine everything made up of the smallest imagineable pieces of string and bubbles that constantly dissapear and re-appear.

the most basic unit of space time is a quantum wave function which only exists when it is observed - kinda like the feeling you get when you are a kid playing hide and seek, and covering your eyes so no one can see you

: )

Answer 10

on ytmnd.com theres a really cool miniseries called why quantum physics is cool... type that into the search bar and watch a few.. at first it was cool, but then my brain hurt after the third one.. >_< they're still really cool though!