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What is Quantum Tunneling?

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Energy Fusion Measurement Mechanics Physics Potential Quantum Reality Star Tunneling Uncertainty
dcolarusso
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    dcolarusso
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  • Added: 25-Mar-07

Transcript: http://www.davidcolarusso.com/blog/?p=33#more-33

This video is an adaptation of an earlier piece of mine--Perspective on quantum mechanical tunneling. That film, however, was designed for a unique audience, and I felt its overall length was limiting its appeal here. So I've repackaged it as one of my weekly postings. I Hope you enjoy.

People have been asking for the math. So here it is. The Sun's core temp is ~13.6 MK. For hydrogen nuclei the Coulomb barrier is roughly 0.1 MeV. This corresponds to a temperature in excess of 1 GK! Luckily, tunneling and the distribution of speeds among nuclei lower the actual temperature required. So without tunneling even the Sun's core isn't hot enough for fusion. To see most of this worked through, check out this link:
http://burro.cwru.edu/Academics/Astr221/StarPhys/coulomb.html
for a less mathematical explanation, try:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion#Requirements

Transcript: http://www.davidcolarusso.com/edblog/?p=41

The Tabletop Explainer is an intermittent educational vlog presenting answers to viewer questions, brief science lessons, and ideas for teachers and students. It is a feature of my blog "Tilts at Windmils" which can be found at http://www.davidcolarusso.com/blog/

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Comments on

What is Quantum Tunneling?

15 Comments | Add Comment
  • What dis he mean ...

    What dis he mean when saying that because the tennis ball is big its improbability is small? Why are size and probaility related?

    By lexiustia [Affiliate User] 1212448257 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • exactly!! just ...

    exactly!!
    just because someones blind, doesnt mean that world isnt there! or it has or it hasnt enough energy to skip the barrier! so i must conclude that suns particles have

    By cauda123 [Affiliate User] 1212447718 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • The fact that we ...

    The fact that we can't determine the exact location of a particle with absolute certainty, means that that particle doesn't have an exact location, just because we can't detect it? It sounds like "there is nothing behind my wall simply because i can't see it" statement.
    In a sense does this vagueness applies in the quantum world, so that even when two protons collide, they don't know where the other exactly is and they might collide with each other without knowing they were close you mean?

    By tsilibourditsas [Affiliate User] 1212444215 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • the sun shines ...

    the sun shines because of the massive pressures because of the size of it aswell ;)

    By twmate [Affiliate User] 1212439099 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • As a former science ...

    As a former science student turned theologian, I love the video! Very simply explained and good visual aids, as well as real-world applications.

    By Paleolutheran [Affiliate User] 1212037139 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • most excellent ...

    most excellent video. more please!!

    By phial1 [Affiliate User] 1212033340 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I liked your "God ...

    I liked your "God does not need to conform to Einstein's beliefs."

    By faisalhalim [Affiliate User] 1211935371 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • I liked this video ...

    I liked this video because it was simple enough for me to actually understand. Thanks.

    By AveiMil [Affiliate User] 1211875089 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • cud u explain the ...

    cud u explain the mass dependency of tunneling, why hydrogen will tunnel but deuterium wont?

    By Lukawright [Affiliate User] 1211837315 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • huh?

    huh?

    By Dennio83 [Affiliate User] 1211755841 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Dr. Karl Nemetski ...

    Dr. Karl Nemetski appreciates your succinct and concise summary of Quantum Tunneling.

    By KarlNemetski [Affiliate User] 1211744486 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Dr. Karl Nemetski ...

    Dr. Karl Nemetski appreciates your succint and concise summary of Quantum Tunneling.

    By KarlNemetski [Affiliate User] 1211744432 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • in the world of ...

    in the world of quantum mechanics everything is most likely possible,it can have matterlike and wavelike properties.
    considering the possibility of another dimentions,those particles can ge anywhere they like without detection because to us it will only be in a same spot at most of the time.for the particles its tunneling,but for us its near to warping trough space and time.
    Yes physic is very difficult to understand,and we are free to think of other theories.coz its a free world.

    By maxseifert [Affiliate User] 1211582478 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Maybe what would be ...

    Maybe what would be more probable than the ball tunneling through the table at some indefinite point in the future, is that particles of the ball would slowly become apart of the table. I'm not sure about distance, but I'm sure an inch is a large distance for an electron. Maybe the barrier the electron tunnels though is much thinner than a table top. I wonder if the ball would get stuck in the table before it passes through!?! Assuming it doesn't disintigrate or lose its momentum first.

    By seplrm [Affiliate User] 1211555549 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • God doesnt give a ...

    God doesnt give a F**k about us.
    If he exists in the 11 dimensions, he is everywhere and for him past = present = future.
    conclusion: he wouldnt give a F**k about us because he can "be" anywhere and at any time (year, day, moment) so why worry?

    By Caminheiros [Affiliate User] 1211514614 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
15 Comments | Add Comment