Wave Particle Duality and How It Works

The wave-particle duality principle of quantum physics holds that matter and light exhibit the behaviors of both waves and particles, depending upon the circumstances of the experiment. It is a complex topic but among the most intriguing in physics.   Wave-Particle Duality in Light In the 1600s, Christiaan Huygens and Isaac Newton proposed competing theories for lights behavior. Huygens proposed a wave theory of light while Newtons was a corpuscular (particle) theory of light. Huygenss theory had some issues in matching observation and Newtons prestige helped lend support to his theory so, for over a century, Newtons theory was dominant. In the early nineteenth century, complications arose for the corpuscular theory of light. Diffraction had been observed, for one thing, which it had trouble adequately explaining. Thomas Youngs double slit experiment resulted in obvious wave behavior and seemed to firmly support the wave theory of light over Newtons particle theory. A wave generally has to propagate through a medium of some kind. The medium proposed by Huygens had been luminiferous aether (or in more common modern terminology, ether). When James Clerk Maxwell quantified a set of equations (called Maxwells laws or Maxwells equations) to explain electromagnetic radiation (including visible light) as the propagation of waves, he assumed just such an ether as the medium of propagation, and his predictions were consistent with experimental results. The problem with the wave theory was that no such ether had ever been found. Not only that, but astronomical observations in stellar aberration by James Bradley in 1720 had indicated that ether would have to be stationary relative to a moving Earth. Throughout the 1800s, attempts were made to detect the ether or its movement directly, culminating in the famous Michelson-Morley experiment. They all failed to actually detect the ether, resulting in a huge debate as the twentieth century began. Was light a wave or a particle? In 1905, Albert Einstein published his paper to explain the photoelectric effect, which proposed that light traveled as discrete bundles of energy. The energy contained within a photon was related to the frequency of the light. This theory came to be known as the photon theory of light (although the word photon wasnt coined until years later). With photons, the ether was no longer essential as a means of propagation, although it still left the odd paradox of why wave behavior was observed. Even more peculiar were the quantum variations of the double slit experiment and the Compton effect which seemed to confirm the particle interpretation. As experiments were performed and evidence accumulated, the implications quickly became clear and alarming: Light functions as both a particle and a wave, depending on how the experiment is conducted and when observations are made. Wave-Particle Duality in Matter The question of whether such duality also showed up in matter was tackled by the bold de Broglie hypothesis, which extended Einsteins work to relate the observed wavelength of matter to its momentum. Experiments confirmed the hypothesis in 1927, resulting in a 1929 Nobel Prize for de Broglie. Just like light, it seemed that matter exhibited both wave and particle properties under the right circumstances. Obviously, massive objects exhibit very small wavelengths, so small in fact that its rather pointless to think of them in a wave fashion. But for small objects, the wavelength can be observable and significant, as attested to by the double slit experiment with electrons. Significance of Wave-Particle Duality The major significance of the wave-particle duality is that all behavior of light and matter can be explained through the use of a differential equation which represents a wave function, generally in the form of the Schrodinger equation. This ability to describe reality in the form of waves is at the heart of quantum mechanics. The most common interpretation is that the wave function represents the probability of finding a given particle at a given point. These probability equations can diffract, interfere, and exhibit other wave-like properties, resulting in a final probabilistic wave function that exhibits these properties as well. Particles end up distributed according to the probability laws and therefore exhibit the wave properties. In other words, the probability of a particle being in any location is a wave, but the actual physical appearance of that particle is not. While the mathematics, though complicated, makes accurate predictions, the physical meaning of these equations are much harder to grasp. The attempt to explain what the wave-particle duality actually means is a key point of debate in quantum physics. Many interpretations exist to try to explain this, but they are all bound by the same set of wave equations... and, ultimately, must explain the same experimental observations. Edited by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Juvenile Crime Is One Of The Country s Not Joking Issues...

Juvenile crime is one of the country s not joking issues. Worry about it is shared through elected, state, and neighborhood government authorities and through people in general. In the United States, age cut-off points of juveniles change, the most extreme age being set at 14 years in a few states and as high as 21 years in others. The 16-to 20-year age gather, considered grown-up in many spots, has one of the most unusual occurrences of actual crime. A large degree of grown-up criminals has a foundation of early misconduct. Burglary is the most well-known offense through children’s; more genuine property violations and assault are most as often as possible submitted in later youth. The reasons for such conduct, similar to those of crime, as a rule, are found in a complex of mental, social, and monetary components. Clinical reviews have revealed passionate instabilities, more often than not emerging from confused family circumstances, in many delinquents (John T. Whitehead, 20 15). For this particular discussion, we will focus on three contributing factors that are linked to Juvenile Delinquency. The three we will be discussing are, family dynamics, mental health and social class. Social class The social imbalance is an issue that causes hurt in a developing society. This issue offers different qualities, however, causes stress and turmoil in the meantime. Societal position can adjust the way we see things and the open doors that are displayed to particular people. BeingShow MoreRelatedEssay about Women in Law Enforcement3546 Words   |  15 Pages(Hyde, Pg. 252). This quote represents a shifting economic pattern where women are finally achieving personal prosperity. While female workers are now more popular than ever in some industries, their status in law enforcement stands as a controversial issue in the public eye. Does occupational segregation currently exist in police work? The truth is that the occupation has long been dominated by men and closely associated with the stereotypical inexpressive masculinity of Sergeant Friday (Dubeck, PgRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesappreciate your writing to him at dowden@csus.edu. iv Praise Comments on the earlier 1993 edition, published by Wadsworth Publishing Company, which is owned by Cengage Learning: There is a great deal of coherence. The chapters build on one another. The organization is sound and the author does a superior job of presenting the structure of arguments. David M. Adams, California State Polytechnic University These examples work quite well. Their diversity, literacy, ethnic sensitivityRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesbuilt-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore

Sexual, Gender, And Gender - 964 Words

Sex refers to biological identity male or female while gender refers to social expectation and behaviors assigned to each sex, but not everyone conform this expectation we can say that gender is based on self-concept and the way we interact with others this is formed through social life(family ,friends , religion , media†¦)where a lot of behaviors are shaped through what is socially accepted and what is not which for example even though many people are not naturally born into these gender expectation there is a strong set of ideas built about how â€Å"normal† men and women should look and act, with all of this associated mostly with masculinity and femininity for example men become doctors and women become nurses, men are the breadwinners and women take care of home and children, boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls men are tall and muscular and women are petite ,thin and sensitive and of Couse men are supposed to marry women and only this anything else is a n undesirable and not accepted there is no place for intersex people too. â€Å"Intersex† is a term used for a many conditions in which is someone who is born with a different sexual anatomy that is not what you can call typical female or male. For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male characteristic anatomy on the inside. Or they be born with genitals organ that seem to be in-between the natural male and female types. nobody consider that situation or even talkShow MoreRelatedGender, Sexual, And Gender1091 Words   |  5 Pagesyour gender is somewhat up to you. Your gender can vary and change over time. It could have a different meaning depending on the culture, a geographic location, or even a specific group of individuals. â€Å"Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person s biological sex. Behaviors that is compatible with cultural expectations is referred to as gender†normative; behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with these expectations constitute gender non†Read MoreGender, Sexual, And Gender862 Words   |  4 PagesWithin Western society, frequently, we hear the terms ‘gender’ and ‘sex’. However, each of these terms are used interchangeably and therefore incorrectly. We are born, assigned a sex, and sent out into the world. For many people, this is cause for little, if any conflict. However biological sex and gender are contrasting; gender is not inherently nor solely connected to an individual’s physical anatomy. Even so, one’s biological gender or ‘sex’ is determined at birth through physical attributes,Read MoreGender, Gender And Sexual Orientation Essay2043 Words   |  9 Pageslegislation has been passed to rectify past oppression of racial, gender and sexual orientation groups, America remains a patriarchal society whose institutions are structurally desig ned to favor white, cisgender, heterosexual males. The film Higher Learning, brings to light this issue of institutional racism, while perpetuating in majority of the male characters what the ideal man represents and how that is related to racial issues and sexual orientation in the film. Issues of homosexuality is not onlyRead MoreGender, Gender And Sexual Norms1399 Words   |  6 Pageshas been shaped by changing ideas about gender, sexuality, race, and class. The institution of the family has changed but it has also remained the same in some aspects. Society’s acceptance of changes in gender and sexual norms have reshaped representations of the family. Betty Friedan, Barbara Ehrenreich, and Dorothy Sue Cobble have written articles that pertain to the changing of the institution. As the American society changes its views on gender and sexual norms, sometimes through movements, itRead MoreGender And Gender Development : Sexuality And Sexual Behaviors905 Words   |  4 Pag eshumans consistently experience changes throughout in different areas including sexual, physical, social, and emotional. In looking at sexual development, several theorists have developed explanations governing sexuality and sexual behaviors. In my Critical Annotation of the book â€Å"Sex Gender: An Introduction (6th ed.)† I reviewed stances from several theorists on sexual/gender development. According to Freud, gender development occurs as a â€Å"response to early interactions with caretakers† (Lips,Read MoreThe Sexual Orientation And Gender1455 Words   |  6 Pages The two individuals I interviewed are homosexual males that differ from me in their sexual orientation and gender. I met my first interviewee for an hour on Wednesday, September 21st, and I met my second interviewee for an hour on Wednesday, September 28th. Through these interviews, I learned a great deal about each individual and it allowed me to gain insight into each of their lives. The first individual I interviewed is named Brandon and lives in Lebanon, Missouri. He was born in Osage BeachRead MoreGender And Sexual Attitudes And Behavior1520 Words   |  7 Pagesculture it is certain there are gender dissimilarities in the topic of sexuality. Over time scholarly work has proved an abundant amount of different components correlating to the difference in sexuality resulting in the distinctions of sexual behaviors as well as attitudes among males and females. Difference in sexual attitudes and behavior can be seen between genders across various studies. This research study indicates the differences in sexuality according to gender. It is known that most malesRead MoreFemisim, Sexual and Gender Equality1153 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism/Gender and Orientational Equality Even though many say that the idea of allowing same sex would be against Gods will, and that women are also the lesser sex of the two binary genders, as well that it is unnatural for people to be transgender, everyone, regardless of gender (binary or otherwise) and Sexual/Romantic orientations, deserves equal rights in all cases. Because in only seventeen of fifty states, homosexual couples have marriage rights. This leaves thirty-three states with thoseRead MoreGender Identity And Sexual Identity869 Words   |  4 Pages When I first started thinking about gender roles and how they influence us, I wanted to argue for how things have gotten more equal for both sexes in our society. Women and men alike have gradually shifted into roles once believed to be the sole territory of either one sex or the other, making gender equality highly valued by most people now-a-days. We also now acknowledge the differences between gender identity and sexual identity, and the roles that transgender, bisexual, gay/lesbian, and heterosexualRead MoreGender, Sexual Orientation And Education1746 Words   |  7 PagesIn today’s society, there are divides that impede the movement of progress. These divides may disperse around a number of issues that revolve around gender, religion, sexual orientation and education. These divides have created an un-opened minded society that judge people and groups based on the prejudices and stereotypes that treat them differently. In the aspect of identity discrimination, American society plays a big role in keeping those that are different isolated from the rest of the world

Solar Power vs Coal Power free essay sample

Solar energy can be converted in two ways, by Photovoltaic or â€Å"solar cells† which change sunlight directly into electricity or by concentrating solar power plants which generate electricity by using heat from solar thermal collectors. Coal powered energy has played an important role in the advancement of civilization and will continue to be a major fuel source for at least the next quarter century. It is used primarly to produce electricty and heat through a dirty process which involves mining and combustion of the fuel. The two most common types of coal mining used today are surface mining and underground mining.In the long run, solar energy has greater potential than coal powered energy. Availability of fossil fuels is a considerable factor when dealing with various energy sources. Coal is non-renewable and it is estimated that at least 40% of the world’s electricity comes from coal, and in 2005 Coal power produced 49. We will write a custom essay sample on Solar Power vs Coal Power or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 7% of the United State’s electricity supply. The consumption of coal is expected to increase 71% between 2004 and 2030, highly motivated by developing countries that use coal to generate about 75% of their power.There are limited stocks of coal remaining, they will be entirely depleted this millennium if we continue to burn coal in the future at the same rate we are today. Solar energy, on the other hand requires the use of the sun which is renewable and will potentially never run out regardless of how much it is used. Therefore, solar energy seems to be the better choice. The cost of both solar and coal energy is a contentious topic. Wether in the form of water heating solar panels or PV panels to generate electricity, the solar energy technology is relatively expensive compared to coal-fired plants.Electricity costs in the United States average 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. A currently inexpensive solar system running at an average of 30% peak capacity due to no sun at night or cloudiness which produces 3 kilowatts will cost $6,552. This system will take about 10 years before it costs less than paying for electricity which has been made from coal. However there are some cases where solar energy makes economic sense. Photovoltaics power remote data storage devices can be highly beneficial where electricity is not available such as poor developing countries.Countries such as Africa use inexpensive solar collection devices for cooking and heating water, special design of new houses and buildings can greatly reduce the cost since much of the house becomes an effective solar collector. At the moment the price of coal is relatively cheap and stable due to easy access and an abundant amount that will last up to 250 years longer. Although solar energy is at disadvantage right now, the availability of â€Å"free† sunlight will continue to contribute to the development of new ideas that can make solar power more affordable in the future.The biggest concern associated with coal energy is the affect it has on the environment. It is a dirty fuel that pollutes the air, water and land. Burning coal releases harmful waste such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphuric acids, arsenic and ash. It also emits twice as much carbon dioxide when compared with natural gas to produce the same level of heat, which in return increases the level of harmful greenhouse gases let off into the earths atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are responsible for about 65% of the extra carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Coal mining can also damage the landscape as it requires trees to be cut down, this can impact on wildlife as they have are being forced out of their natural habitat. Similarly, Cadmium, a type of conductor which is used to convert solar energy into electricity, is highly toxic and can build up in the environment even though it is used in small amounts. While coal is a huge contributing factor towards pollution, solar power produces almost no carbon emission or greenhouse gases.There is no oil being burnt nor does it produce toxic waste and its lack of moving parts reduces the chance of enviromental accidents drastically, the only possible pollution may result from the construction and transportation of its parts. The material used to make photovoltaic cells which contribute to most solar energy systems are usually made of silicon, one of the most common minerals found on Earth. This means that creating the components is extremely easy, it doesn’t require mining or drilling th erefore limiting the negative environmental effects.Solar energy is shown to be the obvious choice when environmental factors come into discussion. The large amount of land required for solar power plants causes a problem and is an important factor to be considered, especially where wildlife protection is a concern. Generating electricity from coal actually requires as much or more land per unit of energy delivered if the land used in mining is taken into account. It is estimated that as much as 6 million acres of solar thermal farms would be required to replace all coal fired power production in the USA (Energy Matters, 2010).However, the continuation of coal use would require 7 million acres over the next 60 years which is a significant 1 million more when compared to solar thermal farms which is obviously seen to be the better option. In conclusion, solar powered energy is much more suitable for long term use then coal powered energy, even though in short term it might cost more to develop. Coal is a non-renewable energy source so it isnt going to last forever, it’s negative effect on the environment is a serious issu e and can not be ignored. Therefore we must consider the future and safety of our planet and continue to move towards solar power rather than coal.