Classical mechanics deals mainly with the extremely small such as atoms and subatomic particles. While it works on the macroscopic level as well, with few a exceptions; such as superconductors and superfluids; the results are usually the same as Classical mechanics. It is mainly at the subatomic level that the differences become significant.
Quantum mechanics was developed out of an effort to understand why atoms emit only discrete frequencies of light, but it works outside the atom as well.
There several classes of phenomena called "quantum effects" that have no counter part in Classical mechanics. They included:
While Quantum mechanics has been questioned by some creationists, but it turns out that it can be a useful tool after all.
Quantization is the situation where physical quantities like position, energy and momentum can have only certain discrete values. For a particle free in empty space these physical quantities are continuous, but when a particle is bound to an area of space they can only have certain values discrete.
The energy contained in a given frequency of electromagnetic waves is also quantized in that it always as the same value at the same frequency. The energy is found in discrete packets or particles called photons
Quantization of electron energy within an atom explains much of their behavior, such as why atoms emit only discrete frequencies of light.
Uncertainty principle basically states that there is a limit on the accuracy of simultaneous measurement of physical quantities like a particle's position and momentum. This is most commonly expressed as:
The result is that the more accurately one measures a particle's position the less accurately one can measure its momentum and vice versa. This is not the case because the act of measurement disturbs the system; which it only does sometimes; but it is related to Wave-particle duality.
There are similar uncertainty relations between other physical quantities as well, but Planck's constant is so small ( h = 6.626 X 10-34 J * S ) for the uncertainty principle show up in the macroscopic world.
Wave-particle duality. is the tendency of for light and matter to exhibit both wave and particle like properties. It is a key concept of quantum mechanics.
Some times they behave like particles, exhibiting properties
like scattering, but under the right circumstances they behave
like waves, exhibiting properties like interference and
diffraction. The wave length ( 
) of a particle's wave is = h / p. Where h is
Planck's
constant and p is momentum. The waves
wavefunction
( 
) is related to the
probability of finding the particle a given point in pace. The
relationship is based the square of the amplitude of the
wavefunction. ( |(x)|2
) It is called the probability density.
In some Interpretation of quantum mechanics the wavefunction collapses, this aspect of Quantum mechanics is of interest to Creation science.
Quantum tunneling is related to Wave-particle duality in that it is a result of the wave nature of a particle. It is the process by which a particle gets across a barrier that it can not classically pass. The probability of the particle getting through the barrier drops exponentially with the thickness of the barrier, based on the formula:
(x) = (0) e-k x is the
wavefunction, k it is particles
wavenumber
inside the barrier, and x it the distance. It needs to be noted the particles wavenumber inside the barrier is not the same as it is out side, though they are mathematically related, based on the properties of the barrier.
In Quantum tunneling the travel time across the barrier is zero, thus it is an instantaneous process, and there by faster than the speed of light. While it suggests a possible mechanism for faster than light travel and transmission, it would take an exceedingly large barrier wavenumber to get any significant distance, thus it may never be practical for long distances.
Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more objects have to be described with reference to each other, even though the individual objects may be separated in space. The result is a correlation between the observable physical properties of the systems, such that a change in one object causes an instantaneous change in the other.
It is currently thought that classical information can not by this means. One reason is two particles need to be near each other to become entangled, except by an intermediate particle, which has to be near one particle and then the other.
Quantum teleportation is the transporting of a quantum mechanical state, between two locations by way of an entangled state and some classical information, such as light. The need to use classical information eliminates this as a potential faster than light communication methods.
This process actually destroys the particle at one end and makes a copy of it at the other end. So that all that actually transported is quantum mechanical states, not the actual particles.
There are several Interpretations of quantum mechanics.
The consciousness causes collapse interpretation fits the Biblical worldview well. Since according to this interpretation quantum mechanical waves are collapse consciousness it provides a scientific model for a link between physical and the spiritual. For example it could provide a model for soul body interaction.
Also a sufficiently powerful consciousness would be capable of collapsing quantum mechanical waves to highly improbable states; such an event would by definition be a miracle. This provides a scientific bases for miracles. God being the most powerful consciousness of all would be capable of collapsing quantum mechanical waves to even the most improbable of states, including making the universe from nothing. This opens the door to a possible scientific model for creation.
General Grand Unification fits the
Biblical worldview well. It allows
for the
intelligent design and control of
the universe. It shows how the universe could have been created
from nothing and provides a scientific model for creation.
Both models show compatibility between quantum physics and God,
suggesting
that quantum mechanical indeterminacy results from God working in the
universe.