+259 votes
in Quantum Computing by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+182 votes
by (2.1k points)

According to our current understanding of quantum mechanics, there is a concept called quantum tunneling which allows for the possibility of particles "tunneling" through energy barriers that would be classically impossible to pass through. This phenomenon has been observed and verified in experiments.

In theory, this means that there is a non-zero probability for a tiny grain of sand to tunnel through the energy barriers between your living room and kitchen and appear in your kitchen, even if the probability is extraordinarily small. However, it's important to note that the probability of such an event occurring for a macroscopic object like a grain of sand would be incredibly minuscule. The timescales and energy barriers involved make it practically impossible for such an event to occur within the observable universe's lifetime.

While quantum mechanics allows for the mathematical possibility of such events, it doesn't imply that they occur with any measurable frequency in everyday life. The laws of classical physics, which govern the behavior of macroscopic objects, are typically sufficient to describe and predict the behavior of objects on the scale of grains of sand in our everyday experience.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...