Saturday, December 16, 2006

The US Penny as a Quantum Object

penny.jpg

Ever wonder if quantum effects influence everyday objects? Here's a very rigorous analysis of how often either thermal vibrations or quantum tunneling are likely to topple a penny balanced on edge.

Turns out to be . . . seldom! (And that's perhaps the most flagrant understatement I've ever made...)

I can just barely follow the calculations, but mathematicians out there may find this musing by Nick Herbert to be intriguing.

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