• Question: Does quantum mechanics have any relevance/use to mechanical engineering?

    Asked by blatantlyninja to James, Marcus, Martin, Rob, Suzanne on 19 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Martin Zaltz Austwick

      Martin Zaltz Austwick answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      Well, the way materials behave is dictated by their electronic structure – and how the electrons and the atoms in a material interact. A soft material might be one whose chemical bonds are weak (e.g. graphite allows layers to slide over one another, which is why it can be used in pencils), for example. Generally the mechanical and electrical properties of a material will be a result of quantum mechanical rules of how its atoms and electrons interact.

    • Photo: Suzanne McEndoo

      Suzanne McEndoo answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      Not in a direct way. I don’t think mechanical engineers need to use the equations of quantum physics to figure stuff out. However, quantum physics is important for developing new materials to work with. It also gives us things like the laser which are vital tools in industry and engineering. So indirectly it matters.

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