Quantization Rule for Planetary Motion?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on Sommerfeld's quantization rule and its applicability to planetary motion. It establishes that while planetary coordinates are periodic functions of time, the quantum levels are so closely spaced that they can be treated as continuous. This results in the absence of observable quantization in planetary motion, as the mass energy and momentum of planets overshadow the quantum effects.

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  • Understanding of Sommerfeld's quantization rule
  • Familiarity with Bohr's theory of quantized angular momentum
  • Basic knowledge of quantum mechanics
  • Concept of periodic functions in physics
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Physicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the intersection of classical and quantum theories in planetary motion.

Mahasweta
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according to sommerfield quantization rule "for any physical system in which the co ordinates are periodin functions of time,there exist a quantum condition for each coordinate(e.g in bohrs heory angular momentum is quantised)" then why there is no quantization rule in planetary motion but the coordinates in this system is also periodic functions of time?
 
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Mahasweta said:
why there is no quantization rule in planetary motion?

There would be, but the gaps between adjacent quantum levels are so small relative to the mass energy, and momentum of the planet, and there are so many of them, that we can treat the motion of planets as if it is continuous.
 
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