Classical physics and quantum physics are very different in the way they work and what they explain.
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Determinism vs. Probabilism:
- Classical physics follows clear rules. This means if you know the starting conditions, you can predict what will happen next.
- For example, if you throw a ball, you can use Newton’s laws to figure out exactly where it will land.
- In quantum physics, things are less certain. Particles like electrons don’t have specific positions until we look at them. This is shown in something called the double-slit experiment.
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Scale:
- Classical physics is great for understanding big things, like cars or planets.
- In contrast, quantum physics is important when we study really tiny objects, like atoms and smaller particles.
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Wave-Particle Duality:
- In quantum physics, particles can act like both waves and particles.
- This is different from classical physics, where particles and waves are seen as separate and distinct.
When we learn about these differences, we can discover amazing things about our universe!