3 ms·
is it though? I've heard the argument, but to me it still makes sense as it is used colloquially. It is a discrete jump forward, thus if you are not talking abo
by gmadsen 5y ago
is it though? I've heard the argument, but to me it still makes sense as it is used colloquially. It is a discrete jump forward, thus if you are not talking about electrons and just the latin definition can be an arbitrary sized quanta if defined to an an appropriate set. a quantum leap between scientific epochs is quite large for example
also just reread your comment. I don't agree with the definition "small and random", it is smallest unit of measurement an arbitrary system magnitude can change
- skulk 5y agoHere's my interpretation: a classical leap is when you are somewhere, you expend a bit of energy you have, and you end up somewhere else as a result. Basically, you do something and something happens. A quantum leap, on the other hand, happens when you are somewhere just sitting, and boom, now you're somewhere else. It just happened randomly, without any energy input from you. So to bring this back to the idiom, an example of a quantum leap would be this: "I had a dream yesterday that gave me the insight I needed to finish my proof of XYZ theorem!"
- drdeca 5y agoThe main example of a quantum leap that comes to mind is between energy levels of an electron of an atom, and that does involve emitting or absorbing a photon, carrying the energy that needs to be accounted for. I don’t think what you’ve said is correct.