key term - Quantum mechanics

Definition

Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of matter and energy at extremely small scales, such as atoms and subatomic particles. It describes phenomena that classical physics cannot explain, using concepts like wave-particle duality, superposition, and quantized energy levels.

Related terms

Wave-particle Duality: The concept that particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties depending on how they are observed or measured.

Superposition:

The principle that states an object can exist in multiple states simultaneously until it is observed or measured.

Energy Levels: Discrete values of energy that an electron (or any quantum system) can possess within an atom or molecule.