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Usenet Posted 19 years ago
Usage
Correct meaning of "Quantum leap"?
(Sorry: Not the TV show.)
The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean a very big change in something.
As I recall, however, the correct sense in physics is something like the smallest possible leap in a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?
Why are they sotto and alto and blotto?
I do not know. Go ask uncle oTTo! (Otto Bahn)
The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean a very big change in something.
As I recall, however, the correct sense in physics is something like the smallest possible leap in a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?
Why are they sotto and alto and blotto?
I do not know. Go ask uncle oTTo! (Otto Bahn)
Top answer
) The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean ... [/nq] AIUI, yes to both questions the technical meaning is in your second paragaph; the colloquial meaning is in your first. It's like "fulsome": knowing the correct meaning causes some of us to avoid using the term entirely (the word or phrase is "skunked") but when it's encountered, context will almost always point to which meaning is being used.
- ) The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean ...
- [/nq] AIUI, yes to both questions the technical meaning is in your second paragaph; the colloquial meaning is in your first.
- It's like "fulsome": knowing the correct meaning causes some of us to avoid using the term entirely (the word or phrase is "skunked") but when it's encountered, context will almost always point to which meaning is being used.
- Cheers, Harvey CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed
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34 Answers
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[nq:1](Sorry: Not the TV show.) The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean ... a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?[/nq]
AIUI, yes to both questions the technical meaning is in your second paragaph; the colloquial meaning is in your first.
It's like "ful
AIUI, yes to both questions the technical meaning is in your second paragaph; the colloquial meaning is in your first.
It's like "ful
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[nq:1](Sorry: Not the TV show.) The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean ... a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?[/nq]
Physicists don't use that phrase much. When they do, usually it means a change between any two discrete energy levels, not necessarily adjacen
Physicists don't use that phrase much. When they do, usually it means a change between any two discrete energy levels, not necessarily adjacen
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[nq:1](Sorry: Not the TV show.) The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean ... a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?[/nq]
Yes, but I think the word smallest gives a misleading image.
I'm no physicist but: Although it may be the smallest possible leap in t
Yes, but I think the word smallest gives a misleading image.
I'm no physicist but: Although it may be the smallest possible leap in t
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[nq:1]On the other hand, why apply human standards to quantum systems? The energy change involved can be pretty large on ... it goes directly from one energy level to another, like a car going from 0 to 60 in 0.00 seconds.[/nq]
Yeah, I've never had a problem with the colloquial usage. Both usages imply going from here to there.
oTTo
From here to there,
From there to here,
Yeah, I've never had a problem with the colloquial usage. Both usages imply going from here to there.
oTTo
From here to there,
From there to here,
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[nq:2](Sorry: Not the TV show.) The term "quantum leap" is ... one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?[/nq]
[nq:1]Physicists don't use that phrase much. When they do, usually it means a change between any two discrete energy levels, ... it goes directly from one energy level to another, like a car going from 0 to 60 in 0.00 seconds.[/nq]
More like a car going from your home to your
[nq:1]Physicists don't use that phrase much. When they do, usually it means a change between any two discrete energy levels, ... it goes directly from one energy level to another, like a car going from 0 to 60 in 0.00 seconds.[/nq]
More like a car going from your home to your
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[nq:1]change between any two discrete energy levels, not necessarily adjacent ones.[/nq]
In fact, in talking about electrons in a crystal, it would be pretty strange to describe the smallest possible transition as a quantum leap. Within an energy band, the states are so numerous and so close together as to be effectively continuous. In this context, "quantum leap" more specifically suggests a
In fact, in talking about electrons in a crystal, it would be pretty strange to describe the smallest possible transition as a quantum leap. Within an energy band, the states are so numerous and so close together as to be effectively continuous. In this context, "quantum leap" more specifically suggests a
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[nq:2]Physicists don't use that phrase much. When they do, usually ... a car going from 0 to 60 in 0.00 seconds.[/nq]
[nq:1]More like a car going from your home to your office in an instant without ever travelling on the roads.[/nq]
Oh, and with your homw and office on different floors of their buildings.
** DAVE HATUNEN (Email Removed) ** * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti gro
[nq:1]More like a car going from your home to your office in an instant without ever travelling on the roads.[/nq]
Oh, and with your homw and office on different floors of their buildings.
** DAVE HATUNEN (Email Removed) ** * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti gro
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(Sorry: Not the TV show.)
The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean a very big change in something. As I recall, however, the correct sense in physics is something like the smallest possible leap in a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?
More or less, yes, alt
The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean a very big change in something. As I recall, however, the correct sense in physics is something like the smallest possible leap in a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?
More or less, yes, alt
00
[nq:1](Sorry: Not the TV show.) The term "quantum leap" is commonly used as a popularized technicality (Fowler's term) to mean ... a dimension/measurement (in particular, a jump in electron energy from one level to an adjacent one) is that correct?[/nq]
In some senses, yes. In other senses it can mean "a leap from A to B that would be forbidden to travel in the classical senses". So you can qu
In some senses, yes. In other senses it can mean "a leap from A to B that would be forbidden to travel in the classical senses". So you can qu
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[nq:1]Yes, but I think the word smallest gives a misleading image.[/nq]
No - no, actually, it's pretty much spot on. (Poor Spot!)
[nq:1]I'm no physicist but:[/nq]
That's okay, some of us are. Or were.
[nq:1]Although it may be the smallest possible leap in the subatomic world, a) it is a leap. It's not a gradual increase.[/nq]
Right. That's the defining part, really.
[nq:1]b
No - no, actually, it's pretty much spot on. (Poor Spot!)
[nq:1]I'm no physicist but:[/nq]
That's okay, some of us are. Or were.
[nq:1]Although it may be the smallest possible leap in the subatomic world, a) it is a leap. It's not a gradual increase.[/nq]
Right. That's the defining part, really.
[nq:1]b
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