Ab Initio Models in Physics

[josiah_turner]

Quantum mechanics and classical mechanics are both called ab initio models because for the phenomena they are describing, the base equations given, Schrödinger’s and Newtons (for the most part, of course there are other equations to be used), can not be reduced any further. Essentially they build off of no other equations, and are the base of what describes the event occurring. Schrödinger’s describes the fundamental property of the wave nature of particles, and Newton describes the fundamental property of moving objects. Something like classical electromagnetism would not be considered an ab initio model. Magnetism comes as a result of a electric charge moving in accordance with special relativity- the equations, while initially discovered on their own, build off of that, and therefore can be reduced. In addition, electrical and magnetic properties emerge from quantum properties- again showing that the model of classical electromagnetism can be reduced to other concepts. While quantum mechanics and classical mechanics may be incomplete in some areas, resulting in emerging theories of the universe still coming into play, for the phenomena they describe they are correct and irreducible, unlike classical electromagnetism which can be described with other phenomena.

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