3 ms·
IANAP but there's two different things that come to mind. Even if the number of states were infinite, as long as there's a reasonable probability distribution
by foota 6y ago
IANAP but there's two different things that come to mind.
Even if the number of states were infinite, as long as there's a reasonable probability distribution you can know you can integrate over the probabilities that have some property vs another (say: solid vs not).
Secondly, energy is quantized (on a very very very small level) in reality. Ymmv though, I tried googling this and read some stuff about waves being quantized and particles not and about how it depends on what system you're looking at and I had to drop out of quantum physics when I took it :-)
- kergonath 6y agoFor quantum objects, the distinction between a wave and a particle is not very meaningful. The energy levels of an electron around a nucleus are discrete, regardless of whether the electron behaves more like a wave or more like a particle in the specific experiment you’re doing. Otherwise, you’re right: we count states by integrating (at times discrete, continuous, and often very complex) probability distributions.