Quantum mechanics is one of the most daunting of all areas in physics. To students encountering this subject for the first time at the introductory level, quantum mechanics can seem mysterious, even contradictory, because it is so counterintuitive to what we are used to experiencing in the macroscopic domain where Newton’s laws apply. Some of the confusion can often be dispelled by organizing the material in a way that highlights some of the major connections between the principal elements of the subject. Concept maps can be of value in this regard.

Review the reading in Sections 10.5 and 10.6. Then make a list of the main ideas or concepts introduced in these sections. Your list should include some, if not all, of the following items: uncertainty principle, exclusion principle, wave–particle duality, de Broglie wavelength, and wave function. Try to organize the concepts you have identified around the central theme of quantum mechanics, linking the various concepts appropriately by connecting words or short phrases to form meaningful propositions. When you have completed your concept map, compare your result with that of a fellow student. What similarities exist between the two maps? What distinctions can be seen in them? If there are significant differences in the linkages between concepts held in common in the two maps, discuss them with your colleague and try to resolve them. Consult your instructor for assistance in this effort, if necessary.