Updated September 2011 Paper Cut

Updated September 2011 What is quantum mechanics?

Updated September 2011 Niehls Bohr Anonymous Photograph of Niels Bohr circa 1922 Max Planck Courtesy of the Clendening History of Medicine Library, University of Kansas Medical Center. Albert Einstein Photograph by Ferdinand Schmutzer An understanding of quantum mechanics began in the early 19 th century and had many contributors, including these well-known physicists.

Updated September 2011 Quantum Mechanics is the study of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior of matter and energy. Image by Sbyrnes321

Updated September 2011 Quantum Mechanics describes physics at the atomic scale and smaller. Image cc by Collin M.L. Burnett

Updated September 2011 Matter and energy behave as both waves and particles. Matter at the quantum scale behaves differently in several ways: At the quantum scale, you cannot observe both the speed and the location of a matter and energy at the same time. The behavior of matter and energy at the quantum scale is often counter-intuitive to classical physics.

Updated September 2011 Is nanotechnology better described by quantum mechanics or classical mechanics?

Updated September 2011 Neither. Nanotechnology falls in between these at the mesoscopic scale. cc by Guillaume Paumier Image cc by Collin M.L. Burnett Atomic Scale Mesoscopic Scale Macro Scale Quantum Mechanics Nanotechnology Classical Physics

Updated September 2011 At the mesoscopic scale, the properties of matter are governed by BOTH classical and quantum mechanics. What could be the implications of this?

Updated September 2011 This module is one of a series designed to introduce faculty and high school students to the basic concepts of nanotechnology. Each module includes a PowerPoint presentation, discussion questions, and hands-on activities, when applicable. The series was funded in part by: The National Science Foundation Grant DUE and the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative.

Updated September 2011 Image Credits Schmutzer, Ferdinand (Photographer). Portrait of Albert Einstein. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org) Anonymous Photographer. Portrait of Neils Bohr. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org) Anonymous Photographer. Portrait of Max Planck. Courtesy of the Clendening History of Medicine Library, University of Kansas Medical Center. Sbyrnes321 (Animator). QuantumHarmonicOscillatorAnimation. United States. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org) Burnett, Collin M.L. (Designer). Rutherford Atom. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org)

Updated September 2011 References Scientific American Editors. Understanding Nanotechnology (2002). [Kindle Edition]. Retrieved from Cutting it Down to Nano Outreach Activity. Exploring the Nano World. Retrieved from