question about quantum mechanics??

Question

So I'll hear that the theory implies that certain things like the position and velocity of particles has degrees of uncertainty. Okay, fine. What I want to know, is does this imply deep-seated philosophical uncertainty about the world we live in, or does it merely suggest that the fundamental building blocks of the universe are not the solid newtonian atoms are monkeyu-minds perception of the world finds intuitive? In other words, rather than things being uncertain, they merely exist as probability distributions which still follow strict mathematical scientific rules, albeit ones nonintuitive to our minds?

Answer 1

Uncertainty with regard to quantum mechanics might be more accurately described as immeasurability. Quantum mechanics has no philosophical implications other than those we choose to ascribe to it.

Answer 2

It IS hard for us to understand intuitively the mechanics behind quantum behavior - and some major physicists like Einstein never did (do) truly believe that quantum mechanics was the best way to describe it.

As for uncertainty - it's not the kind the layman understands. Yes, particles follow strict mathematical rules - and those rules include the fact that a particle or wave can be in several different positions and with different velocitys, with a certain percentage more likely than another - but until you actually go out and measure one, you can't know which. And the act of measuring on this scale will, of course, change the very system you are measuring - you have to interact with it, you can't be an outside observer.

Mathematically speaking, quantum mechanics does a decent job of describing interacts between particles - although it is constantly evolving to incorporate some new behavior. Even to a scientist, though, it sure is weird.

Answer 3

Hi. Not that simple. Quantum physics defines how things are, it doesn't explain why. The question is similar to "Why can't I sense that water is made of molecules?". Some things have an intuitive uncertainty. Try to balance a column of billiard balls. Or a pencil on a sharp point. Pretty difficult. It was once predicted that if science could learn the exact position and velocity of all the particles in the Universe they could calculate any future event. The uncertainty principal disproved this idea. You can not know everything about anything without changing it. (Some of the other answers below are very good!)

Answer 4

The uncertainty principle states that we can know the location of an elementry particle or we can know the energy of an elementary particle but we can not know both at the same time. That is due to the multiple dimensional reality underlying the precieved physical universe. I personally hold to the idea that there are hundreds of dimensions and that the various arragements of these dimensions cause the physical world we precieve. I also see time as an illusionary factor, a subjective way of marking movement, not a real dimension. Testable resolutions are difficult and it requiers several years of very high level math and accesss to a monster sized particle accelerator to even start to quantify how experiments need to be set up to demonstrate a theory.

Answer 5

hi Nuff; i for my section sense, with honestly no medical info, that each and every decision we make each day elements an possibility for yet another ( or parallel universe). I enroll in the Robert A. Heinlein theory, probable before a even as yet, an staggering fiction author. try "The type of The Beast" or "Stranger In an unusual Land"sturdy gentle exciting reads. yet time is a severe issue, and one i'm afraid I easily have very fixed notions upon. As i trust God created it,and holds it till, as you would possibly want to assert the time is ideal, and guy might want to bypass ahead in basic terms, living each and every second to the fullest, as there's no going again. "The previous is history, the destiny a secret, we may be able to easily stay contained in the now." yet to punch a hollow into yet another universe, will probable ensue in the destiny, what occurs next? nicely which will be an entire diverse universe again. LOL have exciting with this one! Bob

Answer 6

Yes i hear you but think of the plain string theory suggest that we are not make of atoms and moleculesbut strings of energy intertwine. What if we are chaos in motion of the ever expanding universe?

Answer 7

So what you re saying is that they should change the laws of physics,or add an i.e. extra to the end saying this also includes any variables you could possibly come up with in your brain...

Answer 8

Think of it as a subatomic random number generator. You know certain things will happen, you just cannot determine when or where

Answer 9

Hear hear! Now I need an aspirin.