The treatment of electrons in atoms must be a quantum treatment, but classical physics still works for baseballs. Where is the dividing line? Suppose we consider a spherical virus, with a diameter of 30 nm, constrained to exist in a long, narrow cell of length 1.0 μm. If we treat the virus as a particle in a box, what is the lowest energy level? Is a quantum treatment necessary for the motion of the virus?

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The treatment of electrons in atoms must be a quantum treatment, but classical physics still works for baseballs. Where is the dividing line? Suppose we consider a spherical virus, with a diameter of 30 nm, constrained to exist in a long, narrow cell of length 1.0 μm. If we treat the virus as a particle in a box, what is the lowest energy level? Is a quantum treatment necessary for the motion of the virus?

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