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nDidn you know that we live in a universe in which particles poof inton existence, out of nowhere, and then just—poof—disappear again?
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nAn universe in which teeny particles called electrons can be two placesn at the same time—unless we’re watching?
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nAn universe in which tiny particles are spinning clockwise ANDn counter-clockwise at the same time?
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Argh!nThinking about quantum theory can make my head hurt—because it’snsooo strange! The reality of what happens at the very, very smallnscale of the atom seems almost completely opposite of what commonnsense tells us—because our common sense has to do with much largernobjects such as apples and rocket ships and fleas.
Argh!nThinking about quantum theory can make my head hurt—because it’snsooo strange! The reality of what happens at the very, very smallnscale of the atom seems almost completely opposite of what commonnsense tells us—because our common sense has to do with much largernobjects such as apples and rocket ships and fleas.n
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nThenimplications of quantum theory even upset the “father of quantumnphysics,” Max Planck.
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| Quantum physics allows the possibility of wormholes in space. |
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nThisnGerman physicist didn’t want to revolutionize physics, but he had tonwork with what experimental results showed to be true, and whatnmathematical equations proved as well. Planck came up with the ideanthat light and x-rays and radio waves (and other electromagneticnradiation) can exist only in certain discrete quantities or values.nHere’s an example: instead of light emerging from a lamp as a steadynstream of energy, it is emitted in little packets of energy, callednquanta. From this first idea, and thousands of experiments by manynphysicists all around the world, developed the quantum theory we haventoday.
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nMaxnPlanck, who was born on this day in 1858, won a Nobel Prize for hisncontribution to the science he founded.
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| Some people think that the weirdness of quantum physics means that it isn’t true…. or that it’s useless. But quantum physics is backed up by countless experiments and is used in many ways–such as in computers! |
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nTonlearn more about quantum physics, check out:
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nPhysics4Kids, and
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nThe Science Classroom.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nThe Day of the Rose and the Day of the Book in Spain
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nPlaywright and poet William Shakespeare’s birthday (?)
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