Quantum physics

Quantum Physics

Quantum Physics (pronounced: /ˈkwɒntəm ˈfɪzɪks/), also known as Quantum Mechanics, is a branch of Physics that deals with phenomena on a very small scale, such as molecules, atoms, and subatomic particles like electrons and photons.

Etymology

The term "Quantum" comes from the Latin word "quantus", meaning "how much". In Quantum Physics, it refers to the discrete units of energy, matter, and other physical properties that the theory assumes.

Definition

Quantum Physics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum chemistry and quantum biology.

Principles

Quantum Physics is based on several key principles:

Superposition - This principle states that any two (or more) quantum states can be added together, or "superposed", and the result will be another valid quantum state.

Uncertainty Principle - This principle, formulated by Werner Heisenberg, states that the position and the velocity of an object cannot both be measured exactly, at the same time.

Quantum Entanglement - This is a phenomenon where multiple particles become linked, and the state of one can instantly affect the others, regardless of the distance between them.

Wave-Particle Duality - This principle states that every particle or quantum entity may be described as both a particle and a wave.

Related Terms

Quantum Field Theory - This is a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of subatomic particles in particle physics and quantum chemistry.

Quantum Gravity - This is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics.

Quantum Information - This is the study of how quantum systems can encode, process, and transmit information.

Quantum Computing - This is a type of computation that utilizes quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement to perform data operations.