Wave-Particle Duality

 

          As I said before, I’m attempting to post on quantum mechanics, trying to explain the reasoning that led to some of the crazy conclusions physicists stubbornly cling to in ways that the general public can grasp.  Hopefully in doing so I’ll become a better physicist, and actually understand quantum mechanics myself.  I’ve begun with a series explaining wave-particle duality, which also gives a good historical explanation of the foundation of quantum mechanics for any who are interested.  The mathematics is approximately on a level of second semester college calculus; however, I’ve tried to give a sufficient verbal explanation of the math that it’s not necessary to follow it.  Furthermore, the equations are not derived, but simply included for those who find it easier to grasp abstract ideas in a mathematical formulation.  As always, please contact me with any suggestions, especially of points that need to be clarified, or certainly if I’ve made any mistakes.

 

The series is:

            The Wave Nature of Light

            Quantized Energy

            The Photoelectric Effect

            The Bohr Atom

            Electron Waves

            The Schrödinger Equation

 

The next part of quantum mechanics I’d like to explain is the Uncertainty Principle, although it may be awhile before I’m brave enough to tackle that!

 

 

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