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Hoa Thai Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary
quantum
Hi,
How did the word quantum defined as a unit of energy (e.g., the tiny amount of energy associated with changing of a particle's state) become huge as in a quantum leap / jump? Is this another case of mis-application similar to a near miss?
Thanks,
Hoa Thai
How did the word quantum defined as a unit of energy (e.g., the tiny amount of energy associated with changing of a particle's state) become huge as in a quantum leap / jump? Is this another case of mis-application similar to a near miss?
Thanks,
Hoa Thai
Top answer
A quantum leap or jump is a sudden highly significant advance or breakthrough. Apparently this comes from its use in physics meaning a sudden jump of an electron/ atom/ etc from one energy level to another. So, maybe here the emphasis actually has to do with suddenness rather than size?
- A quantum leap or jump is a sudden highly significant advance or breakthrough.
- Apparently this comes from its use in physics meaning a sudden jump of an electron/ atom/ etc from one energy level to another.
- So, maybe here the emphasis actually has to do with suddenness rather than size?
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1 Answers
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A quantum leap or jump is a sudden highly significant advance or breakthrough. Apparently this comes from its use in physics meaning a sudden jump of an electron/ atom/ etc from one energy level to another.
So, maybe here the emphasis actually has to do with suddenness rather than size?
So, maybe here the emphasis actually has to do with suddenness rather than size?
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