The nature of the atom, early models 16. The nature of the atom, quantum model 17. The world of the very small Quantum mechanics is a phrase used to describe the study of the motions of small bundles of matter. Quantum is Latin for bundle , and mechanics is the study of motion. We have seen that electrons and nuclei are small bundles of matter, so the study of quantum mechanics is the study of the motions of electrons and protons, light and so forth.
Electric charge is also quantized.
In fact, in the atom, everything is quantized. This is not like our everyday, macroscopic world. So the concepts may seem bewildering. If this is so for you, then try to relax a little, and just enjoy hearing about the differences. Measurement and Observation in the Quantum World One of the steps in the scientific method is observation.