Stumble ThisClips from a BBC documentary explaining the arguments from the 1920's until now as to whether electrons are particles, waves or both.
It outlines Einstein's distaste at Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and is a good starting point in realising that the universe is far, far stranger than can be imagined.
Also has some interesting footage showing the impact that the pursuit of quantum physics has made to our world today
It outlines Einstein's distaste at Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and is a good starting point in realising that the universe is far, far stranger than can be imagined.
Also has some interesting footage showing the impact that the pursuit of quantum physics has made to our world today
The preconceived notion has historically been point particles, then wave/particle duality, and in the last 40 odd years electron as standing spherical wave.
Wave theory can indeed give you the correct answers - this is surprising, controversial, not mainstream (although moreso in the last ten years) but does in fact seem to be true in all scenarios. The answers that electron as wave can give you are origin of mass and origin of spin amongst others. It is also mathematically elegant and won't hurt your brain as much as the standard model.
I'll see if I can dig out some electron as wave video worthy of the sift.