Wave Functions

Definition

Wave functions are mathematical descriptions that represent the behavior of particles, such as electrons, in quantum mechanics. They provide information about the probability distribution of finding a particle in different states.

Analogy

Imagine you have a bag of marbles and you want to know how likely it is to pick out a red marble blindfolded. The wave function would be like a map that shows the probability of picking each marble color, with higher peaks indicating higher probabilities for certain colors.

Related terms

Quantum Mechanics: The branch of physics that deals with the behavior of particles at very small scales, where classical physics laws no longer apply.

Superposition: A principle in quantum mechanics stating that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously until they are observed or measured.

Probability Density: A measure used in quantum mechanics to describe the likelihood of finding a particle within a specific region of space.