Quantum physics agrees with the classical physics limit when
A) the total angular momentum is a small multiple of .
B) the total energy is a small multiple of the energy in the lowest quantized state.
C) the difference in energy between adjacent quantized levels becomes vanishingly small.
D) all electron spins are paired so that L = 0.
E) there is a vacancy in an inner level in the atom.

Question

Quantum physics agrees with the classical physics limit when
A) the total angular momentum is a small multiple of . 
B) the total energy is a small multiple of the energy in the lowest quantized state. 
C) the difference in energy between adjacent quantized levels becomes vanishingly small. 
D) all electron spins are paired so that L = 0. 
E) there is a vacancy in an inner level in the atom.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is known as the correspondence principle, where the predictions of quantum mechanics revert to those of classical mechanics when the quantum numbers become very large. In this case, when the difference in energy between adjacent quantized levels becomes vanishingly small, it effectively creates a continuous spectrum, resembling the classical limit. The other options are not necessarily true for the correspondence principle.

Quantum Physics Agrees with the Classical Physics Limit When