Particle in a Box: The Quantum Mechanics Game

Organization:

Georgia Institute of Technology

Dev Category:

Student

Release Year:

2015

Particle in a Box is an educational game that consists of two interactive virtual worlds presenting the classical and quantum mechanical manifestations of the common ‘particle in a box’ model. When the player begins the game, his avatar “Psi” is first taken through the classical world where the environment is governed by physics laws found in our daily lives, where he encounters potential and kinetic energies and the predictability of position and momentum. A strange transition then takes him to the quantum world where he experiences a nano-scaled environment in which energies are quantized and only probabilities are known.

Game Overview

We teach the following principles in our game:

Conservation of Energy in the Classical World
Quantization of Energy in the Quantum World
Dual particle and wave nature of the electron
Relation between light, energy, and color
Influence of Potential Energy Profile on the motion of the particle
Probabilistic nature of the Quantum world

The challenge of the game is to apply the physics concepts learned during the tutorial levels and transfer knowledge gained from those concepts to formulate a strategy that would help the player progress through the various levels of the game.

This game is intended for Undergraduate Students (18 – 22 years) who are interested in Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics, and Microelectronic Theory courses or with an interest in these subjects.

The player needs to understand the physics of what is happening (as shown in the tutorials) and apply it to a similar (but more difficult level) to be able to pass it. The levels themselves gauge the understanding of the underlying concept.

Game Specs

Game Engine

Unity

Operating System

Platform

Game Video

Play the video below to learn more about Particle in a Box: The Quantum Mechanics Game