Quantum Physics Full Course | Quantum Mechanics
Course
Academic Lesson
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
In this lecture, we will introduce the concept of quantum mechanics by explaining why it is
necessary and providing some historical context. We will also discuss some difficult
experiments that classical physics could not explain, leading to the need for quantum
mechanics.
Historical Context
Back in 1900, science had advanced significantly, and physicists thought they had everything
figured out. The general feeling was that if you had perfect knowledge of the present, you could
predict the future and infer the past, and everything was connected by one unbroken chain of
causality. However, some difficult experiments emerged that could not be explained by classical
physics, leading to the need for quantum mechanics.
The Need for Quantum Mechanics
Three difficult experiments that classical physics could not explain are the black body spectrum,
the photoelectric effect, and bright line spectra. The black body spectrum refers to the
distribution of radiation emitted by a hot object, and classical physics could not explain why it
blew up to infinity at short wavelengths. The photoelectric effect involves electrons being
ejected from a material when light strikes it, and classical physics could not explain the
properties of this experiment. Bright line spectra refers to the particular set of frequencies
emitted by a substance when placed in a flame, and it looked nothing like a black body.
Course
Academic Lesson
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
In this lecture, we will introduce the concept of quantum mechanics by explaining why it is
necessary and providing some historical context. We will also discuss some difficult
experiments that classical physics could not explain, leading to the need for quantum
mechanics.
Historical Context
Back in 1900, science had advanced significantly, and physicists thought they had everything
figured out. The general feeling was that if you had perfect knowledge of the present, you could
predict the future and infer the past, and everything was connected by one unbroken chain of
causality. However, some difficult experiments emerged that could not be explained by classical
physics, leading to the need for quantum mechanics.
The Need for Quantum Mechanics
Three difficult experiments that classical physics could not explain are the black body spectrum,
the photoelectric effect, and bright line spectra. The black body spectrum refers to the
distribution of radiation emitted by a hot object, and classical physics could not explain why it
blew up to infinity at short wavelengths. The photoelectric effect involves electrons being
ejected from a material when light strikes it, and classical physics could not explain the
properties of this experiment. Bright line spectra refers to the particular set of frequencies
emitted by a substance when placed in a flame, and it looked nothing like a black body.
