As a chemist I am and have always been fascinated by physics, especially quantum physics and the whole concept of reality.
Here is a Dr. Quantum video about particles and waves on the macro scale and on the quantum scale. If you missed the previous Dr. Quantum video post, here is the link: Dr. Quantum Presents Quantum Physics Theory. Please watch and enjoy it.
Notice that in quantum physics, the observer is not impartial and actually affects the system it is observing. What does this tell you about the world? What does this tell you about the choices you make? Do you think you can change yourself and the world around you by changing your mind?
Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
Dr. Quantum is a cartoon character created by Dr. Fred Alan Wolf, Ph.D. in theoretical physics, for his comic book series to teach kids about quantum physics.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:13 am
What about the proton that was fired at the electron so that an observation would be possible, could that have influenced the behavior of the electron?
January 28th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Hi Brian,
The video doesn’t tell us how the observations were made and says nothing about a proton beam being fired at the electron beam. If they were firing protons at the electrons they most certainly would have affected the electrons, but the method of observation was supposed to have been passive in that it shouldn’t have physically affected the positions of the electrons.
The electron experiment v the macro experiments are to demonstrate that electrons are not things. They are possibilities and can be in more than one place at a time or no place (they pop in and out of existence). This is called quantum superposition and it exhibits a wave pattern. When we observe, we end the probability of finding an electron and actually locate it. By observing, we take away the probability cloud and the electron behaves as a particle.
The observer, no matter how passive, has an effect on the system. Things don’t exist unless we observe them to exist.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Dear Dr. Quantum,
I understand (a little) about “people” making a meaurement or observation in the quantum realm. This causes a wavefunction collapse and replaces probabilities with values for velocity or momentum or location, etc.
One of the measurements/observations, is passing a stream of electons through a small apperature. When the apperature dimension is sufficiently small, the position of an electron, passing through this orifice is “known” and the wavefunction collapses.
What I don’t understand is:
Doesn’t the entire universe constantly perform such measurements/observations? There are plenty of electrons passing through such small aperatures throughout the universe.
Do these electrons have their wavefunction collapsed?
Do we encounter electrons which have had their wave function already collapsed?
Can a collapsed wave function be restored by the universe?
Maybe you can help me ask the right questions?
Sincerely,
Burt
June 6th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
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