The wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, which describes the behavior of particles at the microscopic level. According to this duality, particles such as electrons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on how they are observed or measured.
When quantum physicists say that electrons are waves spread out, they are referring to the wave nature of electrons, which is described by a mathematical function called the wave function. The wave function represents the probability distribution of finding the electron at different positions in space. It describes the wave-like behavior of the electron, including its interference and diffraction properties.
However, it is important to note that this wave-like behavior does not mean that the electron is literally a physical wave spreading out in space. Instead, it means that the electron's behavior can be mathematically described using wave equations and probabilities.
On the other hand, electrons also exhibit particle-like properties. They have properties such as mass, charge, and spin, which give them certain characteristics that are associated with particles. Electrons can be localized in space, interact with other particles, and exhibit properties of a tiny particle with a finite size.
The concept of spin in quantum mechanics is a bit different from the classical notion of a spinning object. Spin is an intrinsic property of particles and is unrelated to actual spinning motion. It is a fundamental property that characterizes the particle's behavior and interactions.
In summary, electrons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, and their behavior is described by the wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics. The wave-like nature is associated with the electron's wave function and its probabilistic behavior, while the particle-like nature is associated with its physical properties such as size, radius, mass, charge, and spin. The wave-particle duality is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics that allows us to understand and predict the behavior of particles at the microscopic level.