Quantum physics explains Newtons laws of motion

Ogborn, Jon; Taylor, Edwin F.

doi:10.1088/0031-9120/40/1/001

Cited by 30 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Just as importantly, it has a straightforward connection with classical dynamics. 6,9,29 The optics version was introduced in his popular book QED, 26 and developed further by others.…”

Section: 9-14mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Action physics

McGinness

Savage

2016

American Journal of Physics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

More than a decade ago Edwin Taylor issued a "call to action" that presented the case for basing introductory university mechanics teaching around the principle of stationary action. 1 We report on our response to that call in the form of an investigation of the teaching and learning of the stationary action formulation of physics in a first-year university course. Our action physics instruction proceeded from the many-paths approach to quantum physics through to ray optics, classical mechanics, and relativity. Despite the challenges presented by action physics, students reported it to be accessible, interesting, motivational and valuable.

show abstract

“…Just as importantly, it has a straightforward connection with classical dynamics. 6,9,29 The optics version was introduced in his popular book QED, 26 and developed further by others.…”

Section: 9-14mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6,9,26 The connection with classical physics is made by identifying the stationary action path with the classical trajectory. In contrast, for quantum mechanical systems satisfying, S path / ≈ 1: destructive interference does not occur, all paths contribute to the amplitude's value, and classical physics is not a valid approximation.…”

Section: 31mentioning

confidence: 99%

Action physics

McGinness

Savage

2016

American Journal of Physics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Therefore, (δξ)(g 1 , g 2 , g 3 ; q) = 0 and ξ(g 1 , g 2 ) is a global (independent of any space-time point q) cocycle. In the following we will assume the gauge fixing condition (40). Then Eq.…”

Section: Mass Cocycles and Central Extensionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relativistic mass and modern physics

Силагадзе

2014

Can. J. Phys.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

At first sight, arguments for and against the notion of relativistic mass look like a notorious intra-Lilliputian quarrel between Big-Endians (those who broke their eggs at the larger end) and Little-Endians. However, upon closer inspection we discover that the relativistic mass notion is alien to the spirit of modern physics to a much greater extent than it seems. To demonstrate an abyss between the modern approach and archaic notions, in this paper we explore how the concept of mass is introduced in modern physics. This modern approach reveals a deep cohomological origin of mass.Comment: 13 pages, no figures. Title changed in the published version (without an entertaining part

show abstract

“…2 As particle mass increases from electron to tennis ball, Feynman's description of quantum motion goes over seamlessly into the principle of stationary action. 3 On the other end of the cosmic scale, the motion of a particle in Einstein's curved spacetime is elegantly predicted using a version of the principle of stationary action. 4 Hook onto the action principle and hitch your understanding to a star!…”

Section: Example: Using Action To Find the Worldlinementioning

confidence: 99%

Action: Forcing Energy to Predict Motion

Neuenschwander

Taylor

Tuleja³

2006

The Physics Teacher

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this paper we use scalar energy, rather than vector force and momentum, to predict how a particle will move. The result is a quantity called action. Action and its relatives undergird Newton's laws and transcend them, also predicting motion in the quantum world and in the curved spacetime of general relativity. An example exhibits action in action.Most introductory physics courses begin with mechanics, as physics itself did historically. We recall everyday experiences with toy wagons, balls, and automobiles and refine descriptions of their motion using vectors: force, momentum, and acceleration. Newton tells us that F = dp/dt. Beyond equations, we learn to represent motion graphically with a worldline, a plot of displacement versus time, which provides a complete description of the path a particle takes through space and time.Energy, which is mathematically simpler than force because it is not a vector, wafts in as a breath of fresh air with forms kinetic K and potential U. But potential energy leads back once again to a vector formulation F = -grad U, telling us that the sharper the incline on which you stand the more difficult it is to resist rolling downhill in the steepest direction.In spite of its awesome power, conservation of energy cannot predict the motion of even a single particle. Why not? Surprise! Because energy is a scalar without direction while displacement of a particle is a vector. Knowing a particle's kinetic energy, we know its speed, and thus the distance ds it will move during the next clock tick dt, but not the direction of that motion, especially in two and three dimensions (Fig. 1).In this paper we force energy to predict how a particle will move. The result is a quantity called action, the invention of a string of geniuses that lived after Newton. To start toward action, think of the simplest possible motion, that of a free particle-a particle subject to no forces. Newton tells us that with respect to an inertial reference frame, a free particle moves in a straight line at constant speed. So choose our space dimension x to lie along the direction of motion of this free particle and plot its worldline (Fig. 2). (Note that the axes are t and x in Fig. 2, not x and y as in Fig. 1.) Constant speed means constant slope of the worldline in the spacetime diagram; that is, a free particle follows a straight worldline. That is what Newton tells us. Predicting Motion Using Kinetic EnergyNow we go over Newton's head and appeal directly to Nature herself, respectfully requesting that she justify the straight worldline of a free particle in terms of our sweet scalar energy. Can she give us an energy reason why the particle follows the straight worldline direct from P to Q in Fig. 2? For example, why doesn't the particle take the alternative worldline PRQ composed of segments A and B? To take this alternative path, the particle would move with higher kinetic energy along the first segment A between P and R, arriving at the final x-value in half the time. Then the particle would relax at rest-with ...

show abstract

Quantum physics explains Newtons laws of motion

Cited by 30 publications

References 1 publication

Action physics

Action physics

Relativistic mass and modern physics

Action: Forcing Energy to Predict Motion

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Quantum physics explains Newtons laws of motion

Cited by 30 publications

References 1 publication

Action physics

Action physics

Relativistic mass and modern physics

Action: Forcing Energy to Predict Motion

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Quantum physics explains Newtons laws of motion