Final answer:
Airplanes are able to fly without colliding by adhering to regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration. Quantum mechanics also demonstrates similar restrictions on the locations of electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The flight path of a commercial airliner is regulated to ensure safety and prevent collisions. The Federal Aviation Administration sets guidelines that each airplane must follow, such as maintaining a distance of five miles from other planes flying at the same altitude and being 2,000 feet above and below another aircraft (or 1,000 feet if the altitude is below 29,000 feet). These restrictions allow planes to fly without running into each other.
Quantum mechanics, a field of physics, reveals similar restrictions on the locations of electrons. Electrons occupy specific energy levels or orbitals around an atom's nucleus. These energy levels have specific shapes and arrangements, which determine where electrons can and cannot be found.