The use of quantum knowledge in everyday life is vast, found in the manufacture of laser scalpels, innovations in cancer detection, and other applications. Learn all about quantum knowledge here. Max Planck's quantum theory, what were his contributions?, the atomic model and more.
What is it?
Max Planck with his Quantum Theory, manages to lay the foundations of what modern physics is today. Therefore, a significant number of data and mathematical concepts are collected in it.
With the fusion of old ideas and scientific schemes, he managed to put together new proposals, which made it possible to provide answers to a set of thoughts and questions. Which had not been put into practice.
Given the desire to find the answers to the multiple inefficiencies of unfinished postulates. Therefore, Planck's motivation arises in trying to solve this erratic behavior of classical physics.
Many of the studies that had been done informally had not been able to be approached scientifically. Product of the non-existence of theories that managed to find a valid explanation.
The exponents of classical physics resisted the emergence of new currents of thought. Therefore, the quantum theory was diminished, due to the lack of futuristic vision on the part of other scientists of the time.
black body
La Planck's theory or quantum theory what it tries to explain is the phenomenon of black body radiation.
The black body is an object that can only be used for theoretical purposes, since it cannot be felt. The statement affirms that said body absorbs the light and energy that falls on it. Without this being crossed.
The phenomenon described by Planck refers to the existence of a kind of symbiotic relationship between matter and radiation. For this reason, matter exchanges its energy with a supply of radiation.
This process by which matter gives up its energy can be in the form of emission or absorption of radiation.
Between Wien and Rayleigh – Jeans there were discrepancies regarding the frequency of the radiation. On the one hand, Wien argued that his low-frequency failure approach was valid, when the radiation frequency was high.
While Rayleigh - Jeans stated that if they were in the presence of a low radiation frequency, the canned frequencies would fail.
According to scientific research, it was determined that frequency is a trait that determines radiation or some other event where waves are present.
Frequencies are identified by the amount of vibrations they can undergo in a certain period of time. Hence Planck's interest in studying the range of frequencies.
Planck's Quantum Theory, the assumption
The first thing to mention is that Planck, with this revolutionary theoretical approach, breaks with what has been established up to now by classical physics.
The hypothesis assumes that the exchange of energy, involving radiation and matter, is produced by a constant event, where the frequency radiation manages to deliver a certain amount of energy, once it had been incorporated into matter.
The proposal that Max Planck intended, at the time of presenting his law, was that the only way to reach a model or equation, which could be considered empirically correct.
It was through the exchange of energy resulting from the entry and exit of very small amounts of energy. These portions of energy are called radiation quantum.
Radiation quantum equation
The equation that follows from the amount of energy E, characteristic of a quantum of radiation of frequency. It can be represented as follows:
E = hxf
Being the data:
- I: energy.
- H: is a constant established by Planck.
- F: is the frequency of the radiation.
This equation can be interpreted as that all radiation that has a frequency f, acts as a stream of particles. While the quantum they can transfer an energy charge of the type E = hx f.
The energy produced from all this process, are radiated or incorporated by the body of matter.
The assumption or hypothesis of Max Planck, confers a condition of tiny mass, to an event that is usually related to wave movements, such as radiation.
Another of the breaks that this theory generated was that it broke with the paradigms of thought where everything must be centered on something and passes to the notion of openness of knowledge and research.
The study of the atoms and the conformation of its structure, where it is the main actor of the entire universe.
This hypothesis was confirmed by experimentation with the event involving radiation interacting with the blackbody. It was also supported by experiments on photoelectric processes and also by the Compton Effect.
Quantum Theory, through history
It was the first years of the XNUMXth century, a time when the most brilliant minds in science embraced the idea of having studied and understood everything that was around them.
The shrewd thinking of many scientists had the conception that atoms were part of the foundation of everything tangible. For many of them, Newton's laws had solved and explained everything.
But, as they were shedding those closed thoughts, they were able to find alternatives to the already established theories.
From this fact, it becomes evident that the explanation of the nature of things was quite incomplete. With the experiences in the area of Planck's quantum theory, great contributions to physics were made.
Below you can find a walk through the most outstanding facts of that golden age of innovations in human thought.
Chronology
- Study on the Corpuscular character of radiation. Attributed to Max Planck, in his preposition of quantum theory, in the year 1900.
- Justification of Photoelectric effect. It was developed by Albert Einstein in 1905, using Planck's study.
- Approach of the atom, as an orbital model that is made up of protons, which serve as the nucleus and electrons that make up the outer orbits. The study was carried out in the year 1911, by Ernest Rutherford.
- Presentation of the , by Niels Bohr. This study takes into account everything developed by Ernest Rutherford, but includes the quantum theory developed by Planck. This event took place in 1913, with its fundamental contribution to human knowledge being that electrons could only be present at a single level and orbit, disconnected from the rest of the system.
- New study to verify Max Planck's quantum preposition. Arthur Compton develops a method of testing quantum theory. In 1923, the Compton Effect is established.
- Louis-Victor de Broglie presents his hypothesis in 1924. In it he establishes the association that exists between each of the particles that make up a wave.
- Werner Heisenberg develops a mathematical system in 1925. With this system, calculations of experimental waves, present in quantum states, could be made.
- Wave Equation, postulated by Erwin Schrödinger in 1926. With this equation, it was possible to know more about waves.
- Fifth Solvay Congress, in 1927. Its central theme was electrons and photons.
- It was a very particular conference, since there was a controversy between two scientific eminences, Einstein and Bohr, in relation to everything that was raised in Planck's theory.
- Essays with the Duality of electrons. Presented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel, in the year 1928. Such an experiment raises the characteristics of the waves, linked to the particles.
- Arguments from Quantum Theory, presented by John Von Neumann, in 1932.
Scope of use of Planck's Quantum Theory
The area of utility for quantum theory is confined only to the levels of the atom and its structures. In addition to the kernel states, where it is completely necessary.
It is very common these days for Planck's quantum theory to be part of other areas of knowledge and innovation. As is the case with electronics.
The area of electronics has used this theory to design electronic devices such as microprocessors, diodes, transistors, resistors and many other devices, which marked a significant advance in the development of this field.
It also meant an important advance in the field of physics, with the possibility of being able to design and build new transmission elements. Like conductors, semiconductors and superconductors.
In medicine, he contributed with the incorporation of new medical technologies, such as the laser scalpel, tomographs, cancer treatment equipment, among others.
It meant a great advance, for the document protection areas, through cryptography. It was also of great help, to understand how the universe behaved.
As you can see, with the discovery of Max Planck, a wider radius of human knowledge could be covered.
Impediment of the Classical Theory, in giving answers
It is important to point out that due to the centralist thinking of classical theories, they were unable to provide answers to natural phenomena that were outside their scope.
A very small world has always existed, which required to be exposed for the knowledge of humanity. The failure of the classical theory was not in whether the scales of the phenomena were micro or macro. It was about their inability to imagine a world beyond the one that was presenting themselves before their eyes at that moment.
Imagine for a moment that you are scientists and need to carry out a certain experiment. It is necessary that you expand your mind and accept the variations in the proportions of the phenomenon that you intend to study.
Thus, for example, if they want to do a study of fluid dynamics, referring to the movement of the oceans.
What is necessary for the investigation
It will be necessary for them to build a model where all the elements and variables that intervene in this marine phenomenon are included. The objective of designing this model is to be able to see all the facts sufficiently broadly.
The previous situation describes a study of the movement of the Mares and oceans, on a medium scale. But if what they want is to know what happens at the level of microparticles, other strategies will have to be applied.
As the sizes of the phenomena to be studied are reduced, they have to put aside classical theories and use molecular or quantum type theories.
Continue to focus on the theme of ocean movements. But now, they want to go a little further and find out what happens in each water molecule.
For this case, and to the extent that they want to go beyond the current approach. Much more thorough approaches will be needed.
For these reasons, it was that the classical theory was surpassed in the idea of giving answers to many of the phenomena. He did not manage to expand his capacity to decompose the objects of study. And to be able to go to the core of things.
Basic characteristics of Quantum Theory
The potentially innovative features that were generated from the postulate of quantum theory are:
- Tiny nature of radiation.
- Element of waves, particles.
- Reality of physical measurements.
Each of these points will be developed, so that you have a better idea of what each one is about.
Tiny nature of radiation
This fact was developed by Max Planck, in his postulate of quantum theory.
Frequently, the phenomenon of radiation was considered as a wave event. At Max Planck's atomic model, it is argued that the radiation was a movement of very small particles, which he called quantum particles.
So the question arises, what is radiation like? Well, the essence of radiation is fluctuating or undulating. In addition to having very small parts or being corpuscular.
Radiation, because it has this duality, encompasses multiple elements that cannot be left aside, within the quantum method.
Thus, the radiation will present fluctuating or corpuscular features, according to the frequency to which it is subjected.
In the presence of high frequencies, the radiation adopts corpuscular characteristics, which is equal to very small parts. All this happens in the gamma area of the light spectrum. On the contrary, if the radiation is before, low frequencies. It assumes characteristics of waves, in the light spectrum.
Wave elements, of particles
The wave characteristics of particles was proposed by Louis de Broglie. In it, the duality of light was established, in which it can be a wave, as well as a set of particles called photons.
This scientist was able to demonstrate through experiments, the deflection of electrons and neutrons. Being able to conclude, that there was a type of waves that could accompany the movement of the particles.
The result of this experiment could leave evidence of the ability of particles to exchange their state, according to duality. Being able, consequently, to have wave and corpuscular properties.
This phenomenon is not only characteristic of a micro environment. It is possible to achieve it on large scales. However, the wave and length associated with the phenomenon are so small that they would be imperceptible to the human eye and therefore practically useless to verify.
Reality of physical measurements
This suggests that there are physical measurements whose electromagnetic waves have values in intervals.
As described by Bohr, in his model. Specifically, he described the hydrogen atom, in which a nucleus is clearly visible and around it, an electron revolves in its orbit.
It exposes that all the electrons move in their own orbits, trying to occupy the one with the least energy and with this the stability of the system can be achieved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIGDkFRqGEQ
Time to act quantum theory
Planck's quantum theory puts a lot of emphasis on how tiny the systems are and more, the elements that compose it. It is important that they assume the premise of how small the system is, which is subjected to verification, through quantum theory.
Like power, temperature, electric current and force. There is also the action, as a physical unit to measure. The action is an indication to establish whether we are in the presence of a classical or quantum theory.
Examples of action in quantum theory
Here we explain them:
hydrogen atom
If they decide to analyze the action that is present in a hydrogen atom, according to what is described in the Bohr model. They will obtain, that it is a balanced system, constituted by an electron and a proton.
That electron manages to locate itself in an indeterminate group, but which in turn is found in orbital levels, whose energy is not generated or is produced frequently. Hence the discontinuous term in orbital levels.
If that same electron wanted to go up to another orbit, all it takes is for it to absorb or give off a small amount of radiation. This amount must be identical to the energy inequality between the levels.
wave function
The function of the wave is given by the location that exists one above another of the state of the electron. That is, each electron of hydrogen will assume the charges that are necessary or possible, to be able to occupy an orbit.
The states of the electrons, you will never be able to see them placing one on top of the other. They will always be present, as a feature of the system itself.
They are not wave functions, a quality that is linked to other types of physical waves, such as electric waves or electromagnetic waves.
Quantum theory and probability
In essence, quantum theory is completely probabilistic. Rather, it refers to the possibility that an event occurs at a precise time, without that meaning when it will happen.
Many scientists questioned the high occurrence of the probabilistic fact, as stated in the Contributions by Blaise Pascal, within the quantum theory. Under the argument that it turned it into an incomplete postulate, easily exchangeable for a hypothetical theory.
Albert Einstein proposed that in order to consolidate quantum theory, it had to be made robust by incorporating real elements. whom he called hidden variables, which were ignored by quantum theory.
Einstein considered that, incorporating those elements of reality. Those probabilistic projections would be transformed into deterministic projections.
Biography of Max Planck
He was a prominent German scientist, who is considered the father of quantum theory. He is counted among the most influential men of his time.
He was a revolutionary in physics, even though he had discouraging advice that there was nothing left to discover. Fact happened, before beginning his studies.
His childhood and studies
Max Planck was born in Kiel, a city in Germany, in 1858. His parents were prominent intellectuals. Several of his relatives were linked to the field of education, such is the case of his grandfather, who was a professor of theology.
His family was forced to emigrate to Munich in 1867. Place where he was enrolled in the gymnastics school maximilians. Max Planck, from an early age, had an empathy with music, mechanics and other areas of knowledge, linked to the sciences.
Being just seventeen years old, he finished his high school studies, to begin his studies in theoretical physics, at the University of Munich, a career that he concluded.
He then continued his studies at the Friedrich Wilhelms University in Berlin, where he became close friends with Hermann von Helmholtz, who greatly influenced his future research in the field of thermodynamics.
His undergraduate defense work took place in 1879. The title of his research was Ssecond law of thermodynamics.
Infamous Inventions
For a long time, Planck enjoyed some periods in which he went unnoticed. Those that he took advantage of to investigate in the area of Entropy or Molecular Disorder of Systems.
This period was very opportune for making important discoveries, which earned him recognition for his genius. Such is the case of Treatise on Thermodynamics which he made public in 1897.
He becomes a professor in the year 1885, at the University of Kiel. Apart from continuing studies of chemical physics and heat systems.
It was the year 1889, when he returned to the Friedrich Wilhelms University in Berlin, to assume the position of professor. Place where he remained until 1926, when he retired.
dark body radiation
Max Planck also had his walk through government positions, where he was part of the Electric Companies Commission, in 1894. Where he had the task of finding the way in which the companies that manufactured light bulbs could improve their quality.
At that time, Planck began an investigation to try to find a solution to the problem of dark body radiation. Since some physicists had trouble explaining how the magnitude of radiation absorbed by a dark body depended on the temperature of that body.
Despite Max's genius, he was certainly a fairly conservative investigator. That sometimes, he came to have doubts, regarding his own theories.
With many fears of inconsistency, he manages to find the answer to that inconvenience of radiation. And he hoped that he was wrong and that other scientists would prove it to him.
On the contrary, the one who was totally wrong was him. Since his revolutionary research, he caused a divorce of many scientists with classical physics.
Talk about quantum mechanics
With the arrival of another century, also comes another genius in the sciences. This is Albert Einstein, who makes great contributions and with them to give greater support to Planck's quantum theory.
Another of Einstein's contributions was how bodies behave strangely when heated to very low temperatures.
Although, Planck had recognized his progress with the theory of relativity. With this last proposal he did not agree.
In 1911, together with Walther Nernst, Planck organized a congress. The most prominent figures in the world of science would gather there. The Solvay Congress.
Declaration of the 93
Although Max Planck was not an extreme nationalist. In 1914, he joins the movement of nationalist fervor. And he is included in the group of 93 relevant German personalities. They signed a document, giving support to the military actions of Germany.
After the war was over, Planck was considered an authority on physics. He became the dean of the University of Berlin, in addition to belonging to the Prussian academy of sciences.
He was also a member of the German Physical Society, with which he was able to get resources to be invested, so that scientific research could continue.
During the power of the Nazis
In 1933, with the arrival of the Nazis to power, Planck saw his tranquility and security seriously compromised. Many scientists and other Jewish friends were fired.
Many personalities were forced into an exodus. Situation that led Max to move away from politics. Not for long, because given the harassment to which many of his colleagues were subjected, he was forced to return.
Despite so many inconveniences, he and his family remained in Germany. But, in 1945 his son was arrested and some time later he was executed. This fact caused Planck to enter a terrible depression from which he could never recover.
death and inheritance
This distinguished man of science died in October 1947 in the city of Göttingen in Germany. At the time of his death, he was 89 years old. Leaving his dear wife Marga von Hoesslin a widow and a younger son named Hermann.
It has a vast heritage for science and invaluable contributions to the advancement of humanity.
- He received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1918.
- He was included in the Foreign Membership of the Royal Society in 1926.
- Guest of honor, as a lecturer at Columbia University, in 1909.
- Member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences.
- Member of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society.
- Listed in the German Physical Society.
- Honored with the Max Planck Medal. Prize that was created by himself and that was awarded in 1929.
The Max Planck Society is created
In order to honor the memory of this dedicated scientist, the following is established in the city of Göttingen: Max Planck Society.
Over time, the Max Planck Society merged with the Kaiser Wilhem Society and all its subsidiaries. Currently, it is recognized as a cutting-edge institution in science and technological research.
The European Space Agency in 2009 placed the Planck probe in orbit. Whose objective was to make a space observation. In order to analyze the effect of microwave radiation at infrared frequencies.
This space device was able to collect important data between its launch year and 2013, referring to the density of dark matter in the universe. Which contributed to resolve some questions regarding the Origin of the universe and its evolution.
