Physics

On Tuesday the 20 of May, Melbourne Girls' College had the opportunity to have Dr Danielle Holmes speak to our VCE Physics classes about the world of quantum physics. 

Dr Holmes works as a quantum physicist at the UNSW, and she is helping to revolutionise how humans solve problems using computers by creating qubits. These qubits will enable us to solve problems that cannot currently be solved with just the values of 0 and 1. 

Dr Holmes also gave us incredible insight into the differences between classical physics and quantum physics, explaining to us how tiny atoms work and what quantum physics affects, ranging from the stars in the sky, to the way birds migrate and eventually, to how computers come into the equation. She accompanied these explanations with interesting experiments, including discharging an electroscope using UV light and showing how photons act as both particles and waves! 

We’re super grateful for Dr Holmes’s visit and the knowledge she shared around quantum physics. 

Amari Mahase 

Year 11