Quanta

Definition

Quanta refers to the smallest possible discrete unit of any physical property, such as energy or matter.

Related terms

Quantum Mechanics: The branch of physics dealing with atomic and subatomic systems which describes nature at its smallest – scales of atoms and subatomic particles.

Quantization: The process where continuous quantities are broken down into discrete units. Like turning water flow (continuous) into ice cubes (discrete).

Energy Level: A quantized state that an atom's electron can occupy with specific energy values. Picture these like steps on a staircase, where each step represents a different energy level.