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Quantum mechanics does not mean everything is quantized. It got its name because the first predictions of quantum mechanics were quantized energy levels in some
by eigenket 3y ago
Quantum mechanics does not mean everything is quantized. It got its name because the first predictions of quantum mechanics were quantized energy levels in some example systems, but that does not even mean that all energies are quantized in quantum mechanics. There are many systems you can study where energies are continuous, and many examples where other quantities are continuous in quantum mechanics.
- saalweachter 3y agoWasn't it more the observation the theory was designed to explain than the first prediction?
- eigenket 3y agoI think its a linguistic difference only. At least where I studied it was quite normal to call phenomena you can derive from a physical theory "predictions" even if they have been observed before. I agree the photoelectric effect strongly suggested some quantization before quantum mechanics was formalised.