The Impact of Smaller Planck's Constant: Examining Quantum Phenomena

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the implications of a smaller Planck's constant on quantum phenomena, focusing on how such a change might affect the visibility and nature of quantized energy levels and uncertainties in quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a smaller Planck's constant might make quantum phenomena more obvious.
  • Another participant counters that a smaller Planck's constant could lead to less obvious quantum effects due to smaller intervals between quantized energy levels, which would be closer to a continuum.
  • A different viewpoint is presented that a larger Planck's constant results in larger energy changes, making quantization more noticeable, as expressed through the equation E=nhf.
  • Further, it is noted that smaller changes in energy with a smaller Planck's constant could lead to less noticeable quantization, aligning with classical expectations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether a smaller Planck's constant would make quantum phenomena more or less noticeable, indicating a lack of consensus on the implications of this hypothetical scenario.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on assumptions about the relationship between Planck's constant and energy quantization, as well as the implications for uncertainty in position and momentum, without resolving these assumptions.

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if Planck's constant were smaller than it is, shouldn't quantum phenomena be more obvious than it is now?
 
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Less obvious, probably, since the intervals between quantized energy levels would be smaller and so closer to apparent continuum. Also, the uncertainties in position and momentum could potential be smaller, meaning we could have more simultaneous knowledge about the position and momentum of a particle without breaching the HUP limit.

Why do you think the effects would be more noticeable?
 
maybe i went somewhere wrong again in my reasoning, but i think that since
E=nhf, then if h is bigger, E is bigger, so the change in energy is easier to get noticed?
@@
 
Yes, and since the change in energy required is more noticeable, the quantization of energy is more apparent. And likewise smaller h leads to smaller, less noticeable changes in energy, i.e. closer to an approximised continuum, which is classically what we'd expect.
 
opps~
:P
thank you very much! :)
 

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