Question about Planck's constant

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In summary, the conversation was about the difference between quantum and classical mechanics, and Planck's constant was mentioned as a determining factor for which mechanics to use. However, there is some confusion about how Planck's constant can actually determine this. One commenter suggests that it may be used for atomic phenomena, while another points out that the scale of Planck's constant is much different from the atomic scale. The consensus is that the original statement may be too ambiguous to understand fully.
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mathlete
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I was talking to my friend (who's a physics major) about the difference between quantum and classic mechanics. Planck's constant came up somehow and my friend said that you could use it to determine with a system can be described by classical or quantum mechanics. I thought he was crazy since it's just a constant, how can it determine anything? That's like saying the speed of light can determine how fast a system is moving... it doesn't make sense. Anyone have any comments? Is he right or making everything up?
 
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Methinks your friend meant that quantum mechanical models are for atomic phenomena & are to be applied when the action is of the order of Planck's constant. Regards,
Einstone.
 
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einstone said:
Methinks your friend meant that quantum mechanical models are for atomic phenomena & are to be applied when the action is of the order of Planck's constant. Regards,
Einstone.

Even that can't explain it since Planck scale is many OOM from the atomic scale. It seems too ambiguous to determine what the OP meant...
 

1. What is Planck's constant?

Planck's constant is a physical constant that relates a particle's energy to its frequency. It is represented by the symbol h and has a value of 6.626 x 10^-34 joule seconds (J*s).

2. Who discovered Planck's constant?

Max Planck, a German physicist, discovered Planck's constant in 1900 while studying blackbody radiation.

3. What is the significance of Planck's constant?

Planck's constant is significant because it allows us to understand the relationship between energy and frequency at the atomic and subatomic level. It is also a fundamental constant used in many equations in quantum mechanics.

4. How is Planck's constant measured?

Planck's constant is measured through various experiments, such as the photoelectric effect and blackbody radiation, which involve measuring the energy and frequency of particles. It can also be calculated by dividing the energy of a photon by its frequency.

5. Is Planck's constant a universal constant?

Yes, Planck's constant is considered a universal constant because it has the same value regardless of the system of measurement used. It is a fundamental constant of nature and does not change in different situations.

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