ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Matrix mechanics

Matrix mechanics is a type of math that helps scientists understand how things move and behave. It uses something called matrices, which are like big tables filled with numbers. Imagine a big square piece of paper with lots of boxes on it. Each box has a number in it. The numbers in the boxes can tell us important things about the things we are studying, like how fast they are moving, or which direction they are going.

To use matrix mechanics, we need to know how to do some basic math, like adding and multiplying numbers. We also need to know some fancy words like "eigenvalue" and "eigenvector." These words help us understand certain properties of the thing we are studying.

For example, let's say we are studying a little particle (like an atom or an electron) and we want to know where it is and how fast it is moving. We can use matrix mechanics to make some calculations and find out how the particle moves and where it goes.

Matrix mechanics also helps us understand the rules of something called quantum mechanics, which is a type of physics that helps us understand the very tiny things that make up the world around us. With matrix mechanics, we can make predictions about how these tiny particles will behave in different situations, which is very helpful for scientists who are trying to understand how the world works.

In summary, matrix mechanics is a type of math that helps scientists understand how tiny particles move and behave. It uses big tables filled with numbers called matrices, and some fancy words to help us make calculations and predictions about how these particles will behave in different situations.