Re: What keeps electrons spinning around their nucleus?

From: Puppet_Sock (puppet_sock_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 03/29/05 

Date: 29 Mar 2005 15:51:46 -0800

Tom Capizzi wrote:
> <puppet_sock@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c7976c46.0503291409.5e027614@posting.google.com...
> > dubious@radioactivex.lebesque-al.net (Bilge) wrote in message
> > news:<slrnd4dc08.n0h.dubious@radioactivex.lebesque-al.net>...
> >> Nick:
> >> >What is the velocity of an electron in a shell?
> >>
> >> Velocity isn't a quantum mechanical observable.
> >
> > Of course it is. What ever do you think you get when you take
> > the time derivative of position?
>
> Electrons don't really have position. They have complex probability
> amplitudes.
> What do you get when you take the derivative of that?

Come on. Review your QM. Position is an observable.
Velocity is the time deriv of position. "Don't really
have" isn't a sensible statement. What they have is
expectation values, Eigen values, etc.

So it is perfectly sensible to ask such questions as
"if I measure the position of an electron, what is the
expected value, and what is the distribution?"

Or "if I measure the value now, or in ten minutes,
will I get the same result?"
Socks

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