--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As we showed in figure 5, water molecules…" description: "\"“As we showed in figure 5, water molecules oscillate about their rest positions in ice. Quantum mechanics says that this remains true at absolute zero ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/henning-genz-4557_empty-space_as-we-showed-in-figure-5-water-molecules_2500599.jpg" --- # As we showed in figure 5, water molecules oscillate about… ![“As we showed in figure 5, water molecules oscillate about their rest positions in ice. Quantum mechanics says that this remains true at absolute zero and will not admit a molecule at full rest. Similarly, we saw that what we call empty space is replete with the appearance and disappearance of…” quote by Henning Genz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/henning-genz-4557_empty-space_as-we-showed-in-figure-5-water-molecules_2500599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/henning-genz-4557_empty-space_as-we-showed-in-figure-5-water-molecules_2500599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/henning-genz-4557_empty-space_as-we-showed-in-figure-5-water-molecules_2500599.jpg) > ““As we showed in figure 5, water molecules oscillate about their rest positions in ice. Quantum mechanics says that this remains true at absolute zero and will not admit a molecule at full rest. Similarly, we saw that what we call empty space is replete with the appearance and disappearance of virtual particles. Add energy, and these particles can become real. Add energy to ice, and it will melt. Moving in the opposite direction, remove energy from water and it will freeze because the water molecules attract each other; ice lets them approach as close as possible. The resulting crystalline structure is destroyed by thermal motion of the molecules when energy is added. Moving at random, the molecules emerge as individual particles, much as an electron-positron pair emerges from the vacuum when we add energy.”” [Henning Genz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-genz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quantum fluctuations persist even at absolute zero, preventing particles from being completely at rest, and energy input can transform virtual particles into real ones, analogous to melting ice. **In simple terms:** Even at zero temperature, particles never fully stop; adding energy creates real particles. Key Takeaway Energy changes states; add energy to see change. Themes physics quantum mechanics energy state change Mood curious intrigued Type scientific explanatory When to use this quote - cryogenics - particle physics experiments - energy storage - materials science Key Concepts Zero-point energy virtual particles phase transition Questions to Reflect On - How does zero-point energy affect macroscopic systems? - Can we harness virtual particles for technology? A Different Perspective Energy addition may cause uncontrolled reactions; null cannot be fully eliminated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empty space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/) [Quantum mechanics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantum-mechanics/) ## Related quotes > [The equations of dynamics completely express the laws of the historical method as applied to matter, but the application of these equations implies a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-equations-of-dynamics-completely-express-the-laws-of-the/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Apart from the obvious advantages of having ice to melt, filter, then drink, you can also break apart the water's hydrogen from its oxygen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/apart-from-the-obvious-advantages-of-having-ice-to-melt-filter-then/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Like melting ice, melt within to purify yourself and to gain the power of purity and humility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/like-melting-ice-melt-within-to-purify-yourself-and-to-gain-the-power/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Yielding, like ice about to melt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/yielding-like-ice-about-to-melt/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Pale as ice you passed me by; I wondered what you really felt, And waited through the changing times, To see if you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marsden/pale-as-ice-you-passed-me-by-i-wondered-what-you-really-felt-and/) [John Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marsden/) > [Constant kindness can accomplish much. 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