Quantum physics for dummies
Hey guys, today I am going to do the impossible:explain Quantum physics in the simplest terms I can.
So, What is quantum physics? Basically it explains stuff that are really, really, really small. If you are in grade seven or higher, you probably know about atoms. Atoms are really small, and they make up everything (That’s why you should not trust them). The word atom means “cannot be cut” in Greek. Turns out the name isn’t so accurate. Atoms can be split, with a process called nuclear fission. They don’t use knives to do it, but before I can explain the process, You have to know about subatomic particles. Subatomic particles are even smaller than atoms, and they live inside the atoms. Turns out they have way more space than they bargained for. If an atom were the size of a football stadium, a subatomic particle will be no bigger than a grain of sand. There are three basic types of particles, protons, neutrons, and electrons. I am going to quickly fix up charts for them:
Name:proton
Charge:positive
Position:nucleus
Name:neutron
Charge:none
Position:nucleus
Name:electron
Charge:negative
Position:orbiting
So what’s the nucleus? its a collection of protons and neutrons at the very center of an atom.
Electrons are not in the nucleus. They orbit around the nucleus at the edge of the atom. All
types of particles in an atom are usually the same number. However the number of particles in an
atom can vary based on the element. e.g Hydrogen has one electron, Helium has two, Lithium three and so on.