Single Idea 24162

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / a. Energy]

Full Idea

By deriving his radiation law, Planck had inadvertently introduced the idea that energy itself could be 'quantized'.

Gist of Idea

Planck introduced the idea that energy can be quantized

Source

Jim Baggott (The Quantum Story: 40 moments [2011], 01)

Book Reference

Baggott,Jim: 'The Quantum Story' [OUP 2016], p.16


A Reaction

He earlier assumed energy is continuously variable. I presume this means that the older idea of energy is now subsumed into the concept of fields, which are quantized into particles. The powers of nature are found in the fields.