A Quantum Bouncing Ball

Spatial concepts:
field, gravity, graph

This animation shows the quantum analogy of a classical bouncing ball moving in a gravitational field, without dissipation. The video shows the wave packet motion next to the ball. A graph of the expectation value of the quantum ball versus time is provided that illustrates the dispersion and later reforming of the quantum wave packet.

Resource URL: 
http://www.uark.edu/misc/julio/bouncing_ball/bouncing_ball.html
Created: 
13 May 2008
Creator: 
Julio Gea-Banaloche
Cataloged by: 
ComPADRE: Resources for Physics and Astronomy Education
Subject(s): 
wavepacket
quantum bounce
quantum barrier
Quantum Physics
Probability, Waves, and Interference
Scattering and Continuum State Systems
Science
Physics
Resource type(s): 
Audio/Visual
Movie/Animation
Ed level(s): 
Graduate/Professional
Higher Education
Undergraduate (Lower Division)
Undergraduate (Upper Division)
Informal Education
Audience(s): 
Learner
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Language(s): 
English