quantum wave function

A quantum wave function is like a really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really tiny wave - like the little ripples that form when you drop a pebble in a pond. It's so small that when a scientist looks at it through a special microscope he can see what is happening inside the tiny building blocks of matter (like atoms, protons, and electrons) and how they interact with each other. Wave functions help us understand these tiny building blocks and how they behave when they are combined in different ways to make up all the things we see around us, like water, electricity, and even people!