"Quantum"... I don't think it means what you think it means... (new listener)

[bigfatguy]

I'm working my way through the podcast. It kind of sucks hearing Bane talk about the upcoming 2008 elections, knowing full well how the story ends, but something keeps catching my ear.

Every now and then, Michael uses the word "quantum" to mean something really really big. He's not the only one, lots of people say things like "quantum increase". I blame the TV show Quantum Leap for this.

A quantum is the exact opposite, the smallest possible amount of something. Electron orbits, the particles that make up light, these things are "quantized", and thus, like the James Bond Movie title: A Quantum Of Solace... are really really really tiny.

Great show, otherwise. :-)

[tombogan03884]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quantum

 adjective
6.
sudden and significant: a quantum increase in productivity.

[JoeG]

scientifically it means a change in state vs. a gradual increase.

A step change is the meaning in general discourse.

[Timothy]

As a noun in physics it means the smallest amount of many forms of energy.  There are a few definitions of the term.

potato - potato...

[alfsauve]

Incontheivable

[Sponsor]

[JoeG]

As a noun in physics it means the smallest amount of many forms of energy.  There are a few definitions of the term.

potato - potato...

Not sure what you mean here but I have to say that is not the definition in physics or more correctly quantum mechanics which is most correctly called physical chemistry.

Quantum states are those energy levels that an electron can reside in as part of an atom. They are distinct levels and to move from one to the next a specific amount of energy is gained or lost. This gives different elements their specific and unique colors (wavelengths) of glowing light. Neon lights are a different color than xenon, etc.

While it is true that these are really small increases in energy, the critical theoretical distinction is that they are unique step changes and that other energy values for an electron are "not allowed" in the atom. Those the general vernacular is that a quantum change is a significant step change in a value. Often use to describe a describe  a significant change in a field. This is misused/overused about as much as the term paradigm which is largely misunderstood.

MB talks a lot so he is statistically more likely to mis-speak than the average. He makes up for it with enthusiasm. It is a feature not a bug

[tombogan03884]

MB is using the ADJECTIVE correctly, see the about dictionary quote.