Quantum Mechaniques Quiz

Flashcard 1

Q: What does it mean that a subatomic particle behaves as both a wave and a particle?
A: A particle like an electron acts like a wave when it travels and like a particle when it is observed. This dual nature is called wave-particle duality.

Flashcard 2

Q: How does wave-particle duality explain the two-slit experiment?
A: When not observed, electrons interfere like waves and form an interference pattern. When observed (e.g., to see which slit they pass through), they act like particles, and the interference pattern disappears.

Flashcard 3

Q: What is the wave function (ψ) in quantum mechanics?
A: It’s a mathematical function describing all possible states of a system. The square of its magnitude, |ψ|², gives the probability of finding a particle in a specific state.

Flashcard 4

Q: What did Niels Bohr contribute to quantum mechanics?
A: He developed the Bohr model of the atom and co-founded the Copenhagen Interpretation, which states that particles exist in all possible states until observed.

Flashcard 5

Q: What did Werner Heisenberg contribute to quantum mechanics?
A: He formulated the Uncertainty Principle, which states you cannot simultaneously know a particle’s exact position and momentum.

Flashcard 6

Q: What did Erwin Schrödinger contribute to quantum mechanics?
A: He created the Schrödinger Equation, which describes how the wave function evolves over time.

Flashcard 7

Q: What did Wolfgang Pauli contribute to quantum mechanics?
A: He proposed the Pauli Exclusion Principle: no two fermions (e.g., electrons) can occupy the same quantum state.

Flashcard 8

Q: What did Paul Dirac contribute to quantum mechanics?
A: He combined quantum mechanics with relativity and predicted antimatter, showing every particle has an antiparticle.

Flashcard 9

Q: How does wave-particle duality explain the quantization of atomic energy levels?
A: Electrons act as standing waves around the nucleus. Only certain wavelengths fit, so only certain energy levels are allowed.

Flashcard 10

Q: How does the Pauli Exclusion Principle explain a supernova?
A: It limits how densely electrons or neutrons can be packed. In a collapsing star, this creates degeneracy pressure, which can cause the star to explode in a supernova.

Flashcard 11

Q: What is meant by every spin ½ particle having an antimatter counterpart?
A: Each particle (like an electron) has a twin with the same mass but opposite charge (like a positron), predicted by Dirac's equations.

Flashcard 12

Q: What happens when antimatter collides with matter?
A: They annihilate each other, converting their mass into pure energy—typically as gamma-ray photons.