Quantum Climate Exhibition

Magnetism

Every object has a spin that can be thought of as an arrow
‍Spins of different objects can be added if they point in the same direction
This way big objects made from smaller ones can have huge spin
A spin can be pulled on by a magnetic field but also creates its own field
This is what happens in magnets
A normal magnet consisting of many tiny particles has a big field
This field can pull on the spins in other objects
The spins in these objects align
The complete object is pulled by the magnet
This way big objects made from smaller ones can have huge spin
A spin can be pulled on by a magnetic field but also creates its own field
This is what happens in magnets
A normal magnet consisting of many tiny particles has a big field
This field can pull on the spins in other objects
The spins in these objects align
The complete object is pulled by the magnet
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Solution

A compass has a magnetic needle
It is pulled on by the magnetic field of the Earth
This field always points North
In a hardrive an electromagnet induces pulls on a spot on a metal disk
The part of the disk becomes magnetic
The strength of the magnetic field can be read as data
In an MRI machine very strong magnetic field pull on hydrogen atoms
These are an integral part of your body
Different surrounding make the atoms react different
These differences allow us distinguish different materials in the body

Quantum Tunnelling

Small objects such as particles don't have a specific position
Instead they only have a probability to be a specific position.
This probability can change and make the particle seem to move.
If this probability hits an obstacle it is reduced but never zero.
We can measure any part of space and see if the particle is there.
Measuring behind the obstacle might show a particle there. This happens even if otherwise impossible for the classical particle.

In common USB-drives we have a cube -shaped container.
One of the wall can be controlled.
First we make it likely for particles to tunnel into the container.
Once measured to be inside, the wall is sealed.
Whether a particle is in the container or not is data.
Enzymes increase the speed of chemical processes.
They have two points for resources to attach to.
By tunneling through the enzyme parts of the resources combine.
This creates products faster than otherwise possible.
In the sun particles push each other away.
This push is like a generic obstacle.
Because the sun is big there are many particles.
So some tunnel thorugh this obstacle and fuse together.
This fusion releases huge amounts of energy.

Explanation

Challenge Partners

Martin Leib

Volkswagen

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Airbus

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TU Delft

TBA

Absorption

Explanation

Objects are made from atoms.
Atoms contain electrons that are on distinct energy levels.
Electrons can jump to higher energy levels by gaining energy.
Light is made up of photons, i.e. packages of energy.
If a photon hits an electron it vanishes and its energy is in the electron.
The electron jumps to a higher energy level.
We also say the atom is at a higher energy level.
For combinations of atoms the different levels can occur differently.
Examples are by physically changing positions.
Or by not having levels but different smeared out bands.

Solution

In an eye there are different molecules.
If a photon hits the molecules they jump to a different energy level.
This sends a signal to the brain.
Different colours of light cause different jumps.
This allows the brain to distuingish colour.
In a leave the substance chlorophyll can absorb photons.
Molecules in the substance jump to a higher energy level.
These energetic molecules are then used to build fuel called sugar.
Solar panels consist of many atoms that create energy bands.
Sun light hits the panel and lets electrons jump.
The electrons jump far enough to escape the atom into a wire.
From the wire the electrons energy can be extracted as electricity.

Nuclear Radiation

Emission

Explanation

Objects are made from atoms.
Atoms contain electrons that are on distinct energy levels.
Electrons can jump can fall to lower energy levels.
For this they have to lose energy.
Light is made up of photons, i.e. packets of energy.
Different colours have different energies.
To fall to a lower energy level the electron throws away a photon.
For this to happen, the lower levels have to be free.
If we have many atoms the levels are smeared out bands.

Solution

In a laser there are atoms of one specific element.
Their electrons are made to repeatedly make the same jump.
Thus they always emitt the exact same photon.
This makes all photons the same colour.
LED light-bulbs have electrons pushed to high energy bands.
These fall back down to lower bands emitting a photon.
The jump is only approximately the same.
It is still close enough for humans to seem the same colour.
In a flame the electrons are excited by the thermal energy.
Different temperatures lead to different inital levels.
The different jumps are then seen as different colours.