Answer to Question #198457 in Quantum Mechanics for Nicole

Question

What were physicists studying the behavior of which encouraged them to search for explanations beyond the realm of classical mechanics?

Answer 1

In the early 1980s, research began to focus on the potential that Newtonian physics may not be true even in non-quantum, non-relativistic realms—situations where it was previously thought to be fundamentally faultless. Changed Newtonian dynamics (MOND), a new style of physics developed by Israeli scientist Moti Milgrom in 1983, claims that Newton's second law should be modified at tiny accelerations.MOND would explain various findings that other theories characterize as the product of an unknown, invisible kind of substance dubbed dark matter because tiny accelerations are widespread in astronomical settings. MOND is contentious; some physicists believe it exists, while the majority believe that the data are explained by dark matter. In the scientific tradition of Newton and Galileo, the topic will be resolved by comparing alternative theories' predictions to actual observations.