• Question: What is a quantum?

    Asked by rhooper821 to Ben, Dave, Ed, Sam, Susana on 18 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Sam Horrell

      Sam Horrell answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      Quantization has a couple of different meanings. In its most basic form it is effectively being able to quantify something or put a number to it. Weight for example or volume, length etc.

      In physics its the change from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics. I’m not even going to try and explain this because I have no idea. Maybe ask a physicist the difference.

      In music it is a type of processing that removes differences in rythum.

    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      A quantum is basically a tiny package of energy or light.

      A quantum of light is a photon.

    • Photo: Susana Teixeira

      Susana Teixeira answered on 19 Jun 2013:

      A quantum is a small, discrete amount of some property. Physics uses it a lot, particularly to talk about energy, but the word Quantum is used very loosely and so we all tend to be confused about its absolute meaning!

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