ELI5: The Schrdinger equation : explainlikeimfive

FRONT - ALL - RANDOM | GADGETS - SPORTS - GAMING - PICS - WORLDNEWS - VIDEOS - ASKREDDIT - AWW - MUSIC - FUNNY - NEWS - MOVIES - BLOG - BOO

comments

related

Want to join? Log in or sign up in seconds. | English

This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

ELI5: The Schrdinger equation

submitted 2 years ago by DragonChainsaw22

The Wikipedia article didn't make any sense to me,

so maybe Reddit can explain it better.
10 comments share

all 10 comments

request an explanation

this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2013

0 points (50% upvoted)

shortlink: https://redd.it/1bp62w

sorted by: best

[] Imhtpsnvsbl 3 points 2 years ago

Physicists search for fundamental mathematical truths

about how things happen in the universe. That's basically
what physics is: The search for mathematical equations
that relate things to other things.
The fundamental mathematical relationship of classical
mechanics is that when a thing accelerates, its
momentum changes in a linear way. If a thing's
momentum changes from one thing to another, then it
has accelerated; if it's changing, then it's accelerating.
That's a fundamental truth of classical mechanics, and it
holds for pretty much everything human beings will ever
directly interact with.
There are a variety of ways to express that truth in math.
The simplest (and by far least useful) is Newton's second
law of motion: F = ma. The F stands for force, which is
the rate of change of momentum over time. The m is a
constant that's specific to every individual body in
motion; we call it mass. The a is acceleration, which is
the rate of change of velocity over time. If a thing is
accelerating, then its momentum is changing; if its
momentum is changing, then it's accelerating. That's what
that equation says. You can pretty much fully describe the
motion of any given body with not a whole lot more math
than that. Meaning you can do some math and come up
with an equation that, if you know all the things that

remember me

reset password

login
login

discuss this ad on reddit

UNSUBSCRIBE

6,580,718 readers
7,262 online
E is for explain.
This is for concepts you'd like to understand
better; not for simple one word answers,
walkthroughs, or personal problems.
LI5 means friendly, simplified and
layman-accessible explanations.
Not responses aimed at literal five year olds
(which can be patronizing).

report spam post or comment

important information

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1bp62w/eli5_the_schrdinger_equation/?ref=search_posts[10/25/2015 4:13:51 PM]

ELI5: The Schrdinger equation : explainlikeimfive

change the momentum of an object, lets you predict

where that object will be at any time in the past or future.
But for a quantum system, different rules apply. Objects
don't have defined positions or momenta; instead, we can
only describe the probability of an object having a
particular position or momentum when it interacts with
something else. The mathematical expression that
describes that probability is called the wavefunction, and
is represented by the Greek letter . The wavefunction is
a function of space and time; you plug the coordinates of
a point in space and a moment of time into the
wavefunction, and it gives you back (eventually) the
numerical probability of finding the thing you're looking at
that position at that time.
Schrodinger's equation relates the wavefunction
basically the probability that a thing will be there, then
to a quantity called the Hamiltonian. You can think of
the Hamiltonian of an object as a mathematical equation
that describes the total energy of that object.
Schrodinger's equation basically says that the way the
wavefunction of an object is changing at a particular
instant is directly, and simply, related to the total energy
of the object at that instant.

Read the rules before commenting or

submitting.
Search before submitting with
keywords from your topic. The search
box is in the upper right corner of the
subreddit. You can also refer to our list of
the most popular FAQ's here
Please be neutral in your explanations,
and note your personal bias in
controversial topics.
Direct replies to the original post (aka
"top-level comments") are for serious
responses only. Jokes, anecdotes, and
low effort explanations, are not
permitted and subject to removal.
Don't post just to express an opinion or
argue a point of view.
After receiving an adequate explanation,
OP should mark the post Explained.
Explained posts are still open to
discussion!
ELI5 isn't a guessing game; if you aren't
confident in your explanation, please
don't speculate.

Have an idea to improve ELI5? Click here!

This is a direct analogue to the fundamental idea of
classical mechanics. In classical mechanics, the way an
object's position is changing is directly and simply related
ELI5 Tip: Do not forget to include the ELI5:
to what's acting on that object at that time; the two are
tag at the beginning of your submission!
the same but for the constant m, which is specific to each explained unexplained reset
object and which never changes. The Schrodinger
equation says that the way the mathematical function
a community for 4 years
created by bossgalaga
that tells you the probability of finding a thing at a
particular place is changing is directly and simply related
to the Hamiltonian of that thing, by a factor i (the
imaginary unit, square root of minus one) and the
constant .
In other words, where a thing will be is a function of
what's acting on that thing. Pretty simple idea, really,
when you get right down to it. It's just that we have to
express that idea differently for classical systems and for
quantum systems, because in classical mechanics all
questions have exact numerical answers, while in
quantum systems all answers are expressed in terms of
probabilities instead. So same concept, just different
mathematics, essentially.

discuss this ad on reddit

permalink
[] Slotherz -1 points 2 years ago

MODERATORS

message the moderators

bossgalaga

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1bp62w/eli5_the_schrdinger_equation/?ref=search_posts[10/25/2015 4:13:51 PM]

ELI5: The Schrdinger equation : explainlikeimfive

I'm sorry but this is not explained as if the reader

were a 5 yr old at all
permalink

parent

[] Imhtpsnvsbl 3 points 2 years ago

Look to your right, please.

ELI5 is not for literal five year olds. It is for
average redditors. Preschooler-friendly stories
tend to be more confusing and patronizing.

anonymous123421
sje46
Mason11987
kouhoutek
SecureThruObscure
LoveOfProfit
C47man
AutoModerator
...and 22 more
<

permalink

parent

discussions in /r/explainlikeimfive

555 points 327 comments

[] Slotherz 0 points 2 years ago

As an average redditor, I found your post

rather unsimplified.
permalink

>

ELI5 how are laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol on

Sunday legal and not a violation of the separation
between church and state?

parent

[] Imhtpsnvsbl 2 points 2 years ago

Totally happy for you or somebody else to come along and make it simpler. Go nuts.
permalink

parent

[] robboywonder 2 points 2 years ago

wow. you're kind of a dick. at some point, things get hard to explain - or rather - it
takes effort for the learner to learn it. The dude did well to explain it as simply as he
did.
Put some fucking effort in and try to understand it.
permalink

parent

[] Slotherz 0 points 2 years ago

Its the fact that there was seemingly no effort to simplify any of it, not the fact
that theres obviously effort to answer it. May as well have been an answer in ask
science. No need for insults either
permalink

parent

[] robboywonder 1 point 2 years ago

well, as you said wikipedia was too confusing - so clearly the responder
simplified it a certain amount. my point is that somethings are complicated.
there's a reason we don't teach this stuff to 5 year olds. it requires a sharp
mind and someone who is willing to work themselves through the complicated
mental gymnastics. you can't have everything spoon fed to you.
permalink

parent

[] Amarkov 0 points 2 years ago

The Schrodinger equation is just an equation which physical things have to satisfy. By analyzing the
equation, you can determine various things about physics.
permalink
[] mr_indigo 1 point 2 years ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1bp62w/eli5_the_schrdinger_equation/?ref=search_posts[10/25/2015 4:13:51 PM]

ELI5: The Schrdinger equation : explainlikeimfive

Specifically, it gives you the shape of the wave(function) an object must have in a particular
situation with a particular energy.
permalink

parent

about

help

apps & tools

<3

blog
about
values
team
source code
advertise
jobs

site rules
FAQ
wiki
reddiquette
transparency
contact us

Alien Blue iOS app

reddit AMA app
mobile beta
buttons

reddit gold
reddit store
redditgifts
reddit.tv

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. 2015 reddit inc. All rights reserved.
REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1bp62w/eli5_the_schrdinger_equation/?ref=search_posts[10/25/2015 4:13:51 PM]