Quantum mechanics in the stars
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Donald A. Smith
[1]
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[1] Guilford College
Guilford College
Township of Morehead, Estados Unidos
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- Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 63, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 132-133
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Quantum mechanics lays out the rules governing the behavior of particles at and below the atomic level. It can be challenging to perceive the connections between the counterintuitive properties of particles in the quantum world and our experiences of the macroscopic world. There is, however, an interesting example that ties together the wave nature of matter with the engine that powers all life on Earth: we need quantum tunneling to explain how the Sun shines! In this article, I will outline a sequence of arguments you can walk through with your students to connect the simple act of bouncing a ball with the energetics of the solar core. Classical conservation of energy does not allow solar fusion, and this startling result enables the students to grapple with quantum tunneling and the interpretation of the wave function.
