[sotd] April 21, 2004 [Intro to Quantum Mechanics]
- From: "The Site of the Day" <sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 08:59:49 -0300
Site of the Day for Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Intro to Quantum Mechanics
Today's single web page from physical chemist Todd Stedl provides a summary
of the mysterious realm of quantum mechanics for the lay person. Gentle
Subscribers, having heard such terms as the "uncertainty principle",
bandied about on popular television programs, but who are still in the dark
about their meaning, will discover illuminating material on this branch of
science.
"This page is intended to give an ordinary person a brief overview of the
importance and wonder of quantum mechanics. Unfortunately, most people
believe you need the mind of Einstein in order to understand QM so they
give up on it entirely. (Interesting side note: Einstein didn't believe QM
was a correct theory!) Even some chemists fall into that category -- to
represent physical chemistry our departmental [University of Washington,
Seattle .ed] T-shirts have a picture of the ... atom, which is almost a
century out of date. ...[T]ake a dip in an ocean of information that I
find completely invigorating!" - from the website
The page, using plain language, covers the basic topic of what is quantum
mechanics, why it was developed, its importance and the problems with
classical physics. Additional material is provided on its fundamental
concepts -- discreteness of energy, the wave-particle duality of light and
matter, quantum tunneling, spin of a particle and the ever-popular
Heisenberg uncertainty principle. A selection of helpful graphics serve to
clarify some of the concepts.
Leap over to the web page for a refreshing explanation of quantum mechanics
at:
http://www-theory.chem.washington.edu/~trstedl/quantum/quantum.html
If the above URL wraps in your e-mail client, enter it all on one line in
your browser, or use this TinyURL:
http://tinyurl.com/2dvml
A.M. Holm
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