Quantum physics at your fingertips -- from paper strips to zippers

Abstract

Quantum physics modeling is technically complex and often non-descriptive. This article presents some approaches how quantum physical ideas can be represented by haptic models. For this purpose, models made from 3D printers, models made from paper strips, and models made from textiles are compared. A novelty is the use of zippers instead of paper strips, which can be easily ''cut'' and ''glued'' together. The models have been developed primarily with the aim of conveying and visualizing topological ideas with little basic mathematical knowledge.