2007-08-12 02:16:16 · 3 answers · asked by tellthetruthabc 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The premise that the word 'quantum' refers to is that energy can exist in only discrete 'packets'.
A good analogy is money. The 'quantum' for US currency is the penny. While you can have dimes, dollars and quarters, you can never, ever have anything that doesn't divide evenly by whole pennies. No half pennies or quarter pennies or any other fraction can exist.
This means that matter/energy cannot be divided up indefinitely into smaller and smaller parts. There can be no such thing as a 'half a photon' or a photon with some fractional amount of energy.
If your interaction doesn't transfer the minimum quantum of energy, it doesn't happen and, in quantum theory, cannot happen.
The implications of this simple rule are tremendous. Search the phrase "ultraviolet catastrophe' and 'black body radiation' to learn more.
2007-08-12 02:37:15 · answer #1 · answered by xaviar_onasis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The premise of quantum physics is that energy can exist in tiny packets called photons, and the elementary particles of matter can be expressed in a formula that assumes they have a wave-form nature. That is, energy (which in classical physics is explained as waves) can have the characteristics of particles, and matter, (which in classical physics is described as particles) can have the characteristics of waves.
2007-08-12 02:35:53 · answer #2 · answered by AndrewG 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a nut shell, we live by the laws of Physics, they govern the universe around us. Quantum is the laws that make the laws of Physics, but don't have to follow the laws.
Look at it like Your Boss is Quantum and you are Physics, you have to do what he says, but he doesn't have to follow his rules if he doesn't want to.
2007-08-12 03:37:37 · answer #3 · answered by suzi q 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋