I've had an exam about it this morning. Don't know if I made it, but I think I did.
But I'm gonna try here to let normal people (that is: non-alchemists :crazyeyes) understand it as well. Try to understand what I say here.
-----
The classic laws of physics are known.
Like F=m*a, where F = force; m = mass and a = accelleration.
Or p=m*v, where p = impuls; m = mass and v = velocity.
Now, these formulas work, but only in the macro world. When looking at the smallest objects in the universe, like molecules, atoms, electrons and protons, they don't.
You've probably learned that light is a wave. Red light for example has a wavelength of approx. 400 nanometer. Ultravoilet about 800. That's so-called electromagnetic radiation. Microwaves and radio's use the same, but those waves aren't visible. Only a small part.
Now, there is a problem called the wave-particle dualism. So people said light is a wave; some said light is made of particles. What appeared to be the fact? They were both right. To bring it even further: everything is a particle and a wave! So light isn't made of pure waves, but it comes with very small packets (or quantums). Such a packet has an amount of energy size of h-bar times the wavelength. (h-bar = h (constant of Planck) devided by 2*pi.) So bigger the amount of energy, the smaller the wavelength.
To continue on the wave-particle dualism: they each have their own characteristics. A particle has a shape, mass, colour, etc. A wave has an amplitude, length, form, and it can intervene with other waves, where as particles simply collide. Now, because the amount of energy is disproportionate to the wavelength, a macro-object, like a tennisball, has such a small wavelength that it's characteristics as a wave is neglectible. But when you take an electron, it's wavelength is proportionate to it's environment, like it's distance to the core of an atom.
Edit: forgot to conclude with what I started.
The classic laws of physics is an extreme case of quantum mechanical laws. Either it's a wave or a particle. It works, but only in the macro world.
Quantum mechanics also work, but the scientists have learned not to look at it as the truth, but as a theory that works. No one believes it's the truth, but a theory is true until proven wrong.
-----
I'm very interested: is this a bit understandable?
And is there another chemist who can correct me or tell me I'm right?
But I'm gonna try here to let normal people (that is: non-alchemists :crazyeyes) understand it as well. Try to understand what I say here.
-----
The classic laws of physics are known.
Like F=m*a, where F = force; m = mass and a = accelleration.
Or p=m*v, where p = impuls; m = mass and v = velocity.
Now, these formulas work, but only in the macro world. When looking at the smallest objects in the universe, like molecules, atoms, electrons and protons, they don't.
You've probably learned that light is a wave. Red light for example has a wavelength of approx. 400 nanometer. Ultravoilet about 800. That's so-called electromagnetic radiation. Microwaves and radio's use the same, but those waves aren't visible. Only a small part.
Now, there is a problem called the wave-particle dualism. So people said light is a wave; some said light is made of particles. What appeared to be the fact? They were both right. To bring it even further: everything is a particle and a wave! So light isn't made of pure waves, but it comes with very small packets (or quantums). Such a packet has an amount of energy size of h-bar times the wavelength. (h-bar = h (constant of Planck) devided by 2*pi.) So bigger the amount of energy, the smaller the wavelength.
To continue on the wave-particle dualism: they each have their own characteristics. A particle has a shape, mass, colour, etc. A wave has an amplitude, length, form, and it can intervene with other waves, where as particles simply collide. Now, because the amount of energy is disproportionate to the wavelength, a macro-object, like a tennisball, has such a small wavelength that it's characteristics as a wave is neglectible. But when you take an electron, it's wavelength is proportionate to it's environment, like it's distance to the core of an atom.
Edit: forgot to conclude with what I started.
The classic laws of physics is an extreme case of quantum mechanical laws. Either it's a wave or a particle. It works, but only in the macro world.
Quantum mechanics also work, but the scientists have learned not to look at it as the truth, but as a theory that works. No one believes it's the truth, but a theory is true until proven wrong.
-----
I'm very interested: is this a bit understandable?
And is there another chemist who can correct me or tell me I'm right?
