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A Step Closer to Quantum Theory of Gravity
ruszka writes "PhysicsWeb has an article on two condensed matter theorists that have come up with a new way of looking at the Quantum Hall effect.. It says this could go to be "a small step towards one of the ultimate goals in theoretical physics - a quantum theory of gravity""
With Quantum you at least need Fourier Series and partial Diff. Eq. to solve basic problems. In classical physics you can often get by with just Algebra.
I really think you have that backwards. The only kind of classical physics you can do without calculus is the sort where you plug numbers into equations. $x=(1/2)at^2$. You can do that just as well with QM: the energy states of the hydrogen atom are given by $E=-\frac{\mu Z^2 e^4}{2 \hbar^2 n^2$, what are the first three when Z=2?
On the other hand, the fundamental mathematics of QM is linear algebra, and in its discrete version (matricies) you can go a long long way. Matrix Algebra is commonly taught as part of second-year calculus, but really has little to with the rest of that subject and you could easily teach it first.
I do agree that the cognitive dissonance many students get from the historical progression we use in physics education is unnecessary. I'm not even sure qm is especially counter-intuitive if you haven't just spent a couple years learning to think classically; from a practical point of view they're equally abstract.
Fractional quantum hall effect