What is Quantum Mechanics?
Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that revolves around the study of the very small, like atoms and molecules. Branching off of the study of quantum physics are multiple theories and interpretations to explain the mysteries of quantum mechanics and how quantum experiments affect the world or worlds.
Quantum mechanics originated as sets of controversial mathematical equations of experiments that the math presented in classical mechanics (the study of ordinary objects and how they move and react) could not demonstrate. Unlike other interpretations of stimuli, the origins of quantum mechanics are the works of a collective number of scientists.
These various scientists conjoined works became the idea and research behind quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics gradually became more popular among the scientific and general population, and was seemingly accepted as a fact through experimental proof between 1900 and 1930.
The Science of Quantum Mechanics
The science behind quantum mechanics is separated into 3 important principles. The principles are quantized properties, particles of light and waves of matter. To understand the ideas and products birthed from quantum mechanics, you first need to understand the ideas behind it.
Quantum Physics is the branch of physics dealing with the very small (atoms, electrons, etc.). It is where classical physics, which is the branch of physics which deals with normal every day objects and how they move and react to stimuli, becomes irrelevant. Imagine an ordinary object in classical mechanics, and probably in every day fashion, will exist in one place at one time. But what quantum mechanics concludes is that ordinary objects exist in a haze of probability. For instance, an object in quantum physics would have a certain chance of being at point A, point B, and so on.
Quantized Properties
Quantized properties is one of the three revolutionary principles of quantum mechanics. It directly contradicts a fundamental assumption of classical physics, which is the idea that all properties should exist on a smooth continues spectrum. Instead it concludes that specific properties, such as color, position, size, shape, etc. can occur in specific set amounts. An example would be a dial, clicking between number and number.
The idea was made by a German physicist named, Max Planck when he sought to explain why there was a distribution of colors emitted over the spectrum in the glow of red-hot and white-hot objects. From this idea to test the unknown, Planck realized that colors where quantized, which was quite unusual, being that colors were thought to exist on a continues spectrum and act like a wave. Planck disregarded his findings as a mathematical trick but would go on to provide a fundamental base in quantum mechanics.
Particles of Light
Another major principle of quantum physics is particles of light. The idea behind this is that light can sometimes behave like a particle. This idea was initially met with ridicule and rejection from the scientific community. In 1905 a man by the name of Albert Einstein introduced this concept in his paper "Concerning an Heuristic Point of View Toward the Emission and Transformation of Light," in which he visualized light moving in a form of energy quanta (photon) and not as a wave. Through his findings he concluded this packet of energy could be absorbed or generated as a whole.
In a brief summary, particles of light is a somewhat controversial topic, for it contradicts 200 years of sufficient research showing light behaving in a wave like form (much like ripples in a lake). But, it is conclusive that the idea behind particles of light is interesting and should be included in scholarly discussions. The idea of particles of light when presented by Einstein provided answers to many unanswered questions such as the equation relating to Einstein's "energy quanta" and Planck's constant.
Waves of Matter
The final principle of quantum mechanics is waves of matter. Waves of matter is the idea that matter (light, etc.) can also behave like a wave (somewhat like ripples in a lake). This counters the previous conclusion (Particles of light), and 30 years of data relating to electrons and so forth.
In 1896, the discovery of the electron sparked a growing amount of evidence that all matter exist in the form of particles, but the concept of waves over particles directly contradicts that idea. Instead it concludes, because of the demonstration of light wave-particle duality, matter could not be only limited to particles hence behaving like waves instead. This idea sparked major debate and controversy and produced the works of many great scientists and physicists.