Quantum
Imagine you're trying to adjust the volume on your TV, but the remote has a mind of its own and only changes the volume in fixed increments. This is similar to how atoms absorb or emit energy in specific, fixed amounts, known as quanta. Just like your TV volume won’t change continuously but only in set levels, atoms can’t absorb or emit energy continuously but must do so in these discrete, quantized steps.
Practice Version
Quantum: The minimum amount of energy that can be absorbed or emitted by an atom. Quantum. In simple terms, quantum refers to the smallest possible discrete unit of any physical property, like energy.