Throughout history, infinity has fascinated philosophers, mathematicians, and scientists, who have viewed it as an endless extent or quantity in numbers, space, or time. However, modern physics challenges this traditional view. Recent discoveries suggest that the universe does not operate on an infinite continuum, but rather within a framework of quantization, where physical properties are represented by discrete, indivisible units.
The concept of quantized energy emerged with the development of quantum theory in the early 20th century. Scientists such as Max Planck and later Albert Einstein gathered evidence suggesting that energy, light, and other fundamental aspects of the universe are not continuous, but rather exist in discrete packets or "quanta." Planck's constant, a key quantity in quantum mechanics, defines the size of these distinct units, or the absolute minimum size that a physical particle can have. This represented a departure from classical physics, which viewed energy and other physical quantities as smoothly varying with potentially infinite values.
The implications of quantum theory have had a profound influence on the development of modern physics, leading to the establishment of fields such as quantum physics and quantum chemistry. Quantum mechanics explores how these tiny particles interact at the smallest scales, fundamentally changing our understanding of particles and forces. It provides a framework that explains the behavior of atoms and subatomic particles, something classical physics could not do accurately.
While debunked in physics, infinity still holds significant utility in mathematics and theoretical models. Infinity is a valuable tool for calculations and conceptual experiments that help us understand systems and phenomena that are not yet fully understood or are unobservable. In many ways, infinity represents the limitations of human knowledge and serves as a placeholder for concepts that transcend our current understanding. Go deeper: Reality is Not What it Seems: The Journey to Quantum Gravity - Carlo Rovelli
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