quantum physics is pianistic where classical physics is violinistic

Categories: Comparisons

An example of analogy used to explain science:

"Pianistic thinking cannot allow violinistic glissandi: pianos allow a C#, or a D, but nothing in between. Classical physics regarded nature as a complicated violin: that is, differential equations were always in place; but we cannot think of the atom thus. 𝜆 depends on the speed of the particle, so a particle in an atomic orbit can only run at certain speeds. It cannot run at intermediate speeds; it cannot exist at intermediate speeds."

Norwood Russell Hanson

Hanson, N. R. (1958). Patterns of Discovery: An inquiry into the conceptual foundations of science. Cambridge Univerity Press.

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Read examples of scientific analogies

Many examples of science analogies are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.