Quantum Mechanics
"Anyone who is not shocked by quantum theory has not understood it." - Niels Bohr
⚛️ Wave-Particle Duality
Quantum objects like electrons and photons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties depending on how they are observed. The famous double-slit experiment demonstrates this duality perfectly.
📊 Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
It is fundamentally impossible to simultaneously know both the exact position and momentum of a particle. Mathematically: Δx · Δp ≥ ℏ/2. This is not a measurement limitation - it is a property of reality.
🐱 Schrödinger's Cat
A thought experiment illustrating quantum superposition: a cat in a sealed box can be simultaneously alive and dead until observed. This highlights the measurement problem in quantum mechanics.
🔗 Quantum Entanglement
Two particles can be entangled such that measuring one instantly determines the state of the other, regardless of distance. Einstein called this "spooky action at a distance." It has been experimentally confirmed.
🌊 Schrödinger Equation
The fundamental equation of quantum mechanics describing how quantum states evolve over time: iℏ ∂ψ/∂t = Ĥψ. The wave function ψ encodes all probabilities of a system.
💡 Planck's Constant
The fundamental constant of quantum mechanics: h = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s. It relates the energy of a photon to its frequency: E = hf. Named after Max Planck who discovered it in 1900.
🔢 Quantum Numbers
Electrons in atoms are described by four quantum numbers: principal (n), azimuthal (l), magnetic (mₗ), and spin (mₛ). These determine the electron's orbital and energy level.
💻 Quantum Computing
Uses quantum superposition and entanglement to perform computations. Qubits can represent 0 and 1 simultaneously, enabling exponential speedup for certain problems like factoring and optimization.