You might want to check out the Heisenberg Uncertainty PrincipleAndrew Wright said:Some people have told me there is this thing called "emergence", where nature behaves in unexpected ways when objects are put together. I feel that if all the parts were well enough understood, you could derive the behaviour of collection - right up to the behaviour of the whole universe.
Andrew Wright said:Is classical physics more than just the quantum physics of a large number of particles and quanta?
Andrew Wright said:Is classical physics more than just the quantum physics of a large number of particles and quanta?
Classical physics is the branch of physics that deals with the behavior of macroscopic objects, such as everyday objects and systems. It is based on the principles of classical mechanics, which were developed by scientists like Newton and Galileo. Classical physics emerges from quantum physics through a process called decoherence, which is the loss of coherence or interference between quantum states. Essentially, as the number of particles in a system increases, the effects of quantum mechanics become negligible and the behavior of the system can be described by classical physics.
Yes, the behavior of a macroscopic object, such as a baseball, can be described using classical physics. However, the underlying particles that make up the baseball, such as atoms and electrons, follow the laws of quantum mechanics. The behavior of these particles is averaged out at the macroscopic level, leading to classical physics emerging.
In quantum mechanics, the behavior of particles is described using probability amplitudes, which determine the likelihood of a particle being in a certain state. As the number of particles increases, these probability amplitudes average out, leading to the deterministic behavior described by classical physics. In other words, the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics becomes less apparent at the macroscopic level, giving way to the deterministic nature of classical physics.
Yes, there are some phenomena that cannot be explained by classical physics and require a quantum mechanical description, even at the macroscopic level. For example, the behavior of superconductors and superfluids cannot be explained by classical physics and require a quantum mechanical understanding.
The understanding of classical physics emerging from quantum physics has greatly influenced our understanding of the world, as it has allowed us to bridge the gap between the microscopic and macroscopic worlds. It has also led to the development of new technologies, such as transistors and lasers, which rely on our understanding of quantum mechanics. Furthermore, it has led to new areas of research, such as quantum computing, which have the potential to revolutionize the way we process information and solve complex problems.