| Does anyone on here understand quantum physics? 12:05 - Dec 18 with 1173 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
Or rather, does anyone understand it more than most (I appreciate the adage "if anyone says they understand quantum physics then they haven't understood quantum physics")?
Particles don't exist in any particular position - they exist in a "superposition" - until they're observed, right? If this is the case, then every particle that makes up my bathroom doesn't currently exist in any particular position as no-one's observing it? If you extrapolate out, logically, then my bathroom doesn't exist until someone observes it? Currently, there is nothing there, like a computer game that only renders the bits you're in (it saves energy by only rendering what is needed when it's needed)?
However, do particles need to be observed by humans to have a position? Surely if a spider is in my bathroom, it has at least some perception of it, in order to attach its web, so the bathroom does exist? That begs the question, how far down does perception go (perception that would influence particles)? There might not be a spider in the bathroom, but there will certainly be thousands of microbes - is their perception of their surroundings enough to render the bathroom?
I love watching, reading and thinking about this sort of stuff... and no, I haven't been smoking anything! Genuinely interested in what any science-minded folk think. |  |
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| Does anyone on here understand quantum physics? on 21:19 - Dec 18 with 106 views | stonojnr |
| Does anyone on here understand quantum physics? on 12:42 - Dec 18 by Meadowlark |
Quantum mechanics doesn't really say things don't exist until observed, but rather that their quantum properties (position, spin etc) aren't definite until measured; they exist in a "superposition" of possibilities (a wave function) that "collapses" into one reality upon interaction, or being measured, not necessarily by a conscious observer but by an instrument of some sort, causing a change from potential to definite.
The universe existed for billions of years without observers, so things (like stars, galaxies) definitely existed, but their quantum properties behaved according to probabilities until measured or interacted with.
"Spooky action at a distance" is entirely another thing though....
Edit. I briefly studied physics at university, but it was in the 70's. [Post edited 18 Dec 12:44]
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I thought I did, I then went to one of those Brian Cox tour shows he does at the Regent, hes back end of January btw, and my mind was completely blown and I realised I understand very little about it at all. |  | | |
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