What is Schrödinger's cat theory?
I understand quantum mechanics is extremely confusing, so good luck trying to explain this to me. :) Is it basically that a being is dead or alive, there is no in between? Am I missing something? Can someone explain this in the most BASIC terms possible...I have looked it up on the internet, but I still don't quite understand.
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In quantum mechanics, unobserved atoms can't be described as having a state applied to them - they are in a "superposition" of states - all are present.
That applies to the microscopic world of the atom.
Schrodinger then created his famous thought experiment, his cat -in-the-box.
Quantum theory suggests that, unobserved, we cannot know if the cat is dead or alive, so the CAT itself is in a state of superposition.
Schrodinger made the observation that we KNOW the cat is either dead or alive, so there is some major difference between the microscopic and the macroscopic which means that current models of quantum mechanics are not applicable to macroscopic systems.
Steve
That applies to the microscopic world of the atom.
Schrodinger then created his famous thought experiment, his cat -in-the-box.
Quantum theory suggests that, unobserved, we cannot know if the cat is dead or alive, so the CAT itself is in a state of superposition.
Schrodinger made the observation that we KNOW the cat is either dead or alive, so there is some major difference between the microscopic and the macroscopic which means that current models of quantum mechanics are not applicable to macroscopic systems.
Steve
Feb 17, 2010. 2:14 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
So the "superposition" is sort of like an undefined state? (Sorry, I'm new to physics/quantum mechanics.) And when people say, "Schrodinger's cat is dead", they're basically expressing how they think that studied physics (things that we know are true) can't be applied to quantum mechanics?
Feb 17, 2010. 2:18 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
Or is it saying that if it is unknown, we must assume all possible states to be true? Thanks again for spending time to answer my questions and trying to explain this to me.
UndefinABLE.
If you follow the ideas of people like Karl Popper, there are only theorems about physics, there are no "laws". At any time, newer better knowledge can come along and upset the paradigm, or even break it, that is it is falsifiable. Of course, a lot of physics we are pretty comfortable with, but that doesn't change the underlying principle - it may be wrong.
Schrodinger was one of the first to see that Quantum mechanics which is amazingly successful in the microscopic realm doesn't hang together in the macroscopic world. This is why there is still a search for a Grand Unified Theory that WILL account for the discrepancies properly.
This is now tied up with things like string theory......
So to speak.
;-)
Now KelseyMH will be along directly to show that what I have said is all wrong....
If you follow the ideas of people like Karl Popper, there are only theorems about physics, there are no "laws". At any time, newer better knowledge can come along and upset the paradigm, or even break it, that is it is falsifiable. Of course, a lot of physics we are pretty comfortable with, but that doesn't change the underlying principle - it may be wrong.
Schrodinger was one of the first to see that Quantum mechanics which is amazingly successful in the microscopic realm doesn't hang together in the macroscopic world. This is why there is still a search for a Grand Unified Theory that WILL account for the discrepancies properly.
This is now tied up with things like string theory......
So to speak.
;-)
Now KelseyMH will be along directly to show that what I have said is all wrong....
Feb 17, 2010. 2:33 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
Mhm. I think I understand it now. Thanks! So a shirt that says "Schrodinger's cat is dead" (as featured on ThinkGeek) means the wearer is trying to convey what opinion on the issue?
Either they are making a statement about the decidability of macroscopic physics....
.....or they are just a***oles
Steve
.....or they are just a***oles
Steve
Feb 17, 2010. 2:54 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
Or maybe they want the debate to be over with because it confuses them? *shrug*
Or they just want a nerdy conversation starter? (I'm guilty of that. :))
Or they just want a nerdy conversation starter? (I'm guilty of that. :))
Heck no, Courtney Love, the infamous widow of the late Kurt Cobain is apparently a Quantum mechanics geek. You could try engaging her in conversation, mind, if you upset her she might blow your brains out....Allegedly.
Steve
Steve
Feb 17, 2010. 3:02 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
I'm thinking maybe they're making an ironic little joke (by deciding the truth on something that infamously has no known answer?) that only physics people will understand.
Feb 17, 2010. 3:37 PMLuziviech
says:
by now i get the point why people say "Elvis lives" and "Punk is not dead". I dunno bout physics and that stuff either, but i'd compare it like this:
"If there's a topic and a question bout it, things are out-balanced till you take position." It's just like the question, if there's a god or this "42"-thing. Anyways, 42 is a better answer for a better question with the same topic as Schrödingers Cat. Nonsense in the end...
"If there's a topic and a question bout it, things are out-balanced till you take position." It's just like the question, if there's a god or this "42"-thing. Anyways, 42 is a better answer for a better question with the same topic as Schrödingers Cat. Nonsense in the end...
Feb 17, 2010. 4:05 PMRe-design
says:
They are probably easily confused and only knew about S's cat by watching "Big Bang Therory". That's where I get most of my quantum physics knowledge.
Feb 17, 2010. 6:16 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
It seems like something I might like (nerdy, funny), but I've never had the chance to see it. I'll check it out.
Feb 17, 2010. 10:15 PMMahavishnuMan
says:
Funny, I was just thinking about how the variation of this thought experiment is "Quantum Suicide". Coupled with this, it all makes sense.
Courtney put Kurt in a room with a shotgun rigged to a Geiger counter placed near a syringe of dirty smack that was adulterated with a single atom of plutonium.
The electrician who found him is actually responsible for his death, as it was he who observed Kurt and therefore froze him into a quantum state.
Courtney put Kurt in a room with a shotgun rigged to a Geiger counter placed near a syringe of dirty smack that was adulterated with a single atom of plutonium.
The electrician who found him is actually responsible for his death, as it was he who observed Kurt and therefore froze him into a quantum state.
May 17, 2011. 7:44 AMkurtcobain27
says:
here's wat i thank. when someone dies, they get a choice. they can keep on living and suffer, they can be a ghost, were they live but dnt feel pain, or they can die and be reincarnated.
Feb 17, 2010. 3:32 PMpaganwonder
says:
The state of the cat cannot be known because observation causes changes in state- therefore to know the state of the cat is to know what can't be known. In other words- he who knows the state of the cat must be a god.
BTW- I KNOW the cat to be alive and he likes fish for his supper!
BTW- I KNOW the cat to be alive and he likes fish for his supper!
Feb 17, 2010. 5:01 PMbassclarinet23 (author)
says:
Mhm. I think I'm starting to understand now. Thanks.
Jan 13, 2011. 1:45 PMneomancer45
says:
it should b noted that shrodingers cat principle takes a different meaning when used in social convention.
there, the cat being alive is positive and desired, and the cat being dead is negative. one can think of something unknown in life as a closed box, but experiencing said event is like opening said box, and from there, u can decide whether the cat is alive (positive experience) or dead (negative). hope that cleared it up.
there, the cat being alive is positive and desired, and the cat being dead is negative. one can think of something unknown in life as a closed box, but experiencing said event is like opening said box, and from there, u can decide whether the cat is alive (positive experience) or dead (negative). hope that cleared it up.
Am / alive or dead?
Who knows? If you comment and I reply, you might think I'm alive, but until you test this I can be either dead or alive, or both at the same time - it doesn't matter (both are equally possible). The fact is obtained by actually doing something to obtain the data.
L
Who knows? If you comment and I reply, you might think I'm alive, but until you test this I can be either dead or alive, or both at the same time - it doesn't matter (both are equally possible). The fact is obtained by actually doing something to obtain the data.
L
Feb 17, 2010. 4:39 PMmad magoo
says:
The way I understand it: A cat is in a perfectly sealed box. No radiation, no matter, nothing can get inside the box. In the box with the cat is a flask of poison. This flask is sealed, but will be broken if a very small particle changes state.
When we observe something, we change it. If we don't observe a very small particle, then it is in all of the possible states and places it could be in. However, once we look at it, we see it in one of these states and places because we have changed it to be in that one.
Thus, if, unobserved, that particle controlling the flask of poison is in all of its possible states and places, then the cat (whose life depends on the state and place of the particle) can be said to be both alive and dead. However, if ewe open the box, we will either find a dead cat or a live one.
However, we all know that something can't be both alive and dead, so something weird is happening, to restate what others have said here.
Anyway, that's about as far as I understand it.
When we observe something, we change it. If we don't observe a very small particle, then it is in all of the possible states and places it could be in. However, once we look at it, we see it in one of these states and places because we have changed it to be in that one.
Thus, if, unobserved, that particle controlling the flask of poison is in all of its possible states and places, then the cat (whose life depends on the state and place of the particle) can be said to be both alive and dead. However, if ewe open the box, we will either find a dead cat or a live one.
However, we all know that something can't be both alive and dead, so something weird is happening, to restate what others have said here.
Anyway, that's about as far as I understand it.
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