- #1
NJV
- 39
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I'm fed up. Quantum mechanics keeps confusing me. Is there anyone who can explain in as straightforward a way as possible what exactly zero-point energy is? In particular, there are two things I find quite confusing:
1) Why could zero-point energy be infinite?
2) It is said that the zero point energy of a quantum harmonic oscillator (which I assume includes is equal to one half h-bar times the angular velocity, and that this is the lowest energy it can achieve. Here, the angular velocity in the equation is a variable, and therefore so is the zero point energy. How can there be a lower limit to the angular velocity of the system, and therefore to energy the system can achieve?
1) Why could zero-point energy be infinite?
2) It is said that the zero point energy of a quantum harmonic oscillator (which I assume includes is equal to one half h-bar times the angular velocity, and that this is the lowest energy it can achieve. Here, the angular velocity in the equation is a variable, and therefore so is the zero point energy. How can there be a lower limit to the angular velocity of the system, and therefore to energy the system can achieve?