Foundations of Quantum
Mechanics
People tend
to be unduly frightened of theoretical physics, particularly quantum mechanics
and relativity. To combat this, I’m
going to attempt to explain these, as best I can, in as little technical
language as possible. There seems to be
a perception among the general population the physicists in general have lost
their minds, and when one first runs into quantum mechanics this is indeed a
good thing to wonder. it
seems to me that many people simply decide that they cannot accept these
theories, especially quantum mechanics.
In general, it’s a wonderful idea to have some dissention on theories-
we cannot allow anything to become so indoctrinated that it is beyond
questioning, because only by questioning its tenets can physics as a field
progress. Unfortunately, though, most
people tend to reject quantum mechanics right out without trying to discover
where they disagree- what, specifically, they think is wrong with it. Physicists didn’t derive this theory out of
boredom; the theory arose out of attempts to explain experimental results. The craziness is DERIVED from the formula-
quantum mechanics was not founded on it.
Thus, people who reject quantum mechanics need to also reject at least
one of the explanations of experimental results (like quantized energy). One cannot accept the premises of quantum
mechanics and reject the “craziness”- it’s irrational since the craziness comes
from the explanations of experimental results.
Thus, I am going to attempt to explain the foundations of quantum theory
(which, fortunately, we happen to be studying in Physics 250) and why
physicists proposed these explanations for the experimental results they found,
so that people can discover where they believe physicists went wrong. Over time I hope to cover all the foundations
of quantum mechanics, but the first explanation I’m going to investigate is the
explanation of short-wavelength blackbody radiation by quantized energy. As I write, I’ll try to post here.