The underlying physical laws necessary for the mathematical theory of a large part of physics and the whole of chemistry are thus completely known, and the difficulty is only that the exact application of these laws leads to equations much too complicated to be soluble. It therefore becomes desirable that approximate practical methods of applying quantum mechanics should be developed, which can lead to an explanation of the main features of complex atomic systems without too much computation.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Dirac states that while fundamental physical laws are known, their exact application is often too complex, necessitating approximate practical methods.
- In plain terms
- We know the basic laws of physics but they are too hard to solve exactly, so we need simpler ways to apply them.
- What can you take from it?
- Develop approximate methods to handle complex physical laws when exact solutions are impossible.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is approximation sufficient?
- How do you balance accuracy and feasibility?
Another view
Approximations might miss critical nuances in specific contexts.
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