Atomic Orbitals: Accurate Visual Representation

Study Notes

The speaker finds atomic orbitals frustrating due to simplified diagrams that lack detail and accuracy, or technical representations that are unclear and vague.
The speaker wants a clear and accurate visual representation of atoms that conveys the reality of atoms and their properties.
The desired representation should show the electron's position, speed, energy, and relative size compared to other atoms.
The wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics makes it challenging to visualize atomic orbitals, but the speaker proposes a way to think about it using a wavefunction and particle analogy.
The speaker created 3D visuals of atomic orbitals using mathematical equations, which show the wavefunction as a collection of dots representing the probability of an electron's position.
The density of dots indicates the probability of the electron being in that location, and the motion of the dots represents the "flow" of the wavefunction.
Electrons with more energy are more likely to be farther away from the nucleus, resulting in larger orbitals.
The visuals are not electron trajectories unless considering Bohmian trajectories, which is a topic of debate among philosophers of physics.
The speaker proposes a simplified cartoon representation of an atom based on the three "P" orbitals, which shows the electron orbiting in different directions and perpendicular planes.
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Description

Explore the challenges of visualizing atomic orbitals and discover a new way to think about quantum mechanics using wavefunctions and particle analogy. Learn how 3D visuals can show electron position, speed, and energy, and see a simplified cartoon representation of an atom.