How long would it take for a can of beer to fall over due to quantum tunneling?

In summary, the conversation discusses a solution to a physics problem involving particles at h/2 attempting to tip over a bottle. The concept of tunneling is introduced and the solution suggests that the bottle's center may spontaneously jump to a critical point and tip over. The frequency of attempts is mentioned but not fully understood, and there are questions about setting E=0 and the potential and kinetic energy involved.
  • #1
lackrange
20
0
It's on page 4 (this isn't homework, just something I stumbled upon, it's also in Griffith's 8.17):http://www.physics.udel.edu/~msafrono/425/Lecture 18.pdf .
Can someone help me understand this solution? What exactly is happening...are there particles at h/2 that are smashing against the bottle trying to tip it over? What exactly is tunneling? The solution makes it seem as if it is the center of the bottle that might spontaneously jump up to the critical point and then tip over, but then I don't understand what the frequency of attempts is, why the product should necessarily be 1 (is that just an arbitrary estimate we use for how long it will take to fall over?), and more importantly, why we are setting E=0...they set the potential energy to be 0 at the center of the bottle, but what about kinetic energy?
 
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  • #2
Bump. Any ideas at all would be great.
 

1. How does quantum tunneling affect the falling of a can of beer?

Quantum tunneling is the phenomenon in which a particle can pass through a potential barrier even though it does not have enough energy to overcome it. In the case of a can of beer falling over, the particles that make up the can can potentially tunnel through the barrier created by the stability of the can's base, causing it to fall over.

2. Can quantum tunneling cause a can of beer to fall faster or slower?

Quantum tunneling does not directly affect the speed at which a can of beer falls. The speed of the fall is determined by factors such as air resistance and the mass of the can. However, if quantum tunneling were to occur, it could potentially cause the can to fall in a different direction than it normally would, resulting in a different speed of fall.

3. Is it possible for a can of beer to fall over due to quantum tunneling?

Yes, it is technically possible for a can of beer to fall over due to quantum tunneling. However, the probability of this happening is extremely low and would require very specific conditions to occur. It is much more likely that other factors, such as external forces or instability of the can, would cause it to fall over.

4. How long would it take for a can of beer to fall over due to quantum tunneling?

The time it would take for a can of beer to fall over due to quantum tunneling is difficult to predict. It would depend on the size and shape of the can, the stability of its base, and the probability of quantum tunneling occurring. In most cases, the time would be extremely short, possibly on the order of milliseconds.

5. Is quantum tunneling a common occurrence in everyday objects like cans of beer?

No, quantum tunneling is not a common occurrence in everyday objects. It is a phenomenon that is mainly observed at the microscopic level, such as in particles and atoms. While it is possible for it to occur in larger objects like a can of beer, the probability is extremely low and it would not be noticeable in everyday situations.

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