Modern physics Definition and 256 Threads

Modern physics is a branch of physics either developed in the early 20th century and onward or branches greatly influenced by early 20th century physics. Notable branches of modern physics include quantum physics, special relativity, and general relativity.
Classical physics is typically concerned with everyday conditions: speeds are much lower than the speed of light, sizes are much greater than that of atoms, and energies are relatively small. Modern physics, however, is concerned with more extreme conditions, such as high velocities that are comparable to the speed of light (special relativity), small distances comparable to the atomic radius (quantum mechanics), and very high energies (relativity). In general, quantum and relativistic effects are believed to exist across all scales, although these effects may be very small in everyday life. While quantum mechanics is compatible with special relativity (see relativistic quantum mechanics), one of the unsolved problems in physics is the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity, which the Standard model (of particle physics) currently cannot account for.

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  1. Loren Booda

    What are the gods of modern physics?

    The Big Bang is like the Old Testament creation from the void, or a Brahma day, whose cycle is 4,300,000,000 years. Quantum physics might be likened to the yin-yang duality, a Pandora's box, or the genie in the bottle. The beauty experienced sometimes while studying physics can seem like a...
  2. R

    Are These Modern Physics Books Worth Reading?

    What do you think on the value of these two entertaining books on Modern Physics by George Gamov: "Mr Tompkins in paperback" and "One, Two, Three...Infinity". They make the modern concepts like special and general relativity, quantum physics, 4D space, etc., very understandable for beginners.
  3. C

    When do clocks on an airplane and on the ground differ by 1.0 s?

    Say a jet is flying at 300mph. How much time must pass before a clock in the airplane and one on the ground differ by 1.0 s? I know that this deal with time dilation and the special theory of relativity, yet I have no idea on how to get started.
  4. S

    Modern Physics - What's the Deal?

    Modern Physics -- What's the Deal? Until recently, I had not heard of things such as QM or relativity. I had always thought of things using the Bohr (right?) model taught to me last year in physical science and, well, throughout my public schooling career. What is the current state of...
  5. S

    What Is the Width of a Quantum Well for a 450nm Photon Transition?

    Here is a question that is giving me fits. An electron is trapped in an infinite quantum well. If the lowest energy transition is to produce a photon of 450nm-wavelength, what should be the well's width? Any help is appreciated. :)
  6. Loren Booda

    Modern physics introduced B. C. E.

    "Modern" physics introduced B. C. E. Think of bringing back to the civilizations before the common era physics that could practically be used. For instance, an electric magneto might be fashioned by ancient peoples with access to magnetite and copper. Using his laws, planetary motion could...
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