Quantum Physics

Quantum physics is the branch of physics that studies matter and energy at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. At this extremely small scale, nature does not always behave in the way we observe in everyday life. Instead of following only the rules of classical physics, particles such as electrons and photons are described by quantum mechanics.

Their properties can only be predicted using probabilities until a measurement is made. Quantum objects also display wave-particle duality, meaning they can show characteristics of both particles and waves depending on the experiment. These ideas may seem surprising, but they have been confirmed by countless experiments over more than a century.

Quantum physics is one of the most accurate scientific theories ever developed and forms the foundation of many modern technologies. It explains how atoms are structured, how chemical bonds form and why different materials have distinct properties. Devices such as lasers, semiconductors, LEDs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) all rely on quantum principles.

Researchers are also developing quantum computers, which could solve certain types of problems much faster than today's most powerful computers, although they are not expected to replace conventional computers for every task. By revealing how nature behaves at its smallest scales, quantum physics has transformed both our understanding of the universe and the technologies used in everyday life.