A university student pursuing coursework in linguistics and literature, Matt Kafker also enjoys learning about physics, math, and computer science. Matt Kafker is currently taking classes in differential equations, special relativity, and quantum physics.
At the most basic level, quantum theory deals with our physical understanding of things that are very small: atoms, subatomic particles, and waves. As the particle in question becomes smaller and smaller, the way we understand it changes fundamentally. Energy and mass appear to behave quite differently at macroscopic levels, but that distinction becomes significantly less clear with small particles. In practice, quantum physics must consider the properties of both particles and waves at the subatomic level.
From a mathematical perspective, quantum physics relies on probability functions when determining the outcomes of an experiment. Simply put, it is impossible to predict with 100 percent certainty the outcome of an experiment within a quantum system. In chemistry, the position of an electron cannot be determined with precision; it can only be expressed as a probabilistic wave function. This leads to theoretical concepts such as the notion that a particle occupies more than one state at a time, as evidenced by thought experiments such as the famous Schrodinger’s cat.
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