2006-11-18 03:10:07 · 14 answers · asked by Craig W 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Not for an atom but it is for an electron.
2006-11-18 03:15:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes, essentially, but one should attempt to avoid fuzzy words like "be" in physics. A more precise statement would be that an atom's wave function can be distributed over an arbitrary large volume. Basically that means it can be in a "mixed state" of being here and there. The wave function describes the probability distribution of the atom's properties (such as position), but represents more than our mere knowledge of such things. For example, the same atom's wave function components traveling from different directions at the same time can interfere with each other.
2006-11-18 06:52:46 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the atom connot be in two places at the same time.. but according to heisenbergs uncertainty principle an atom at times behaves as a particle and at times as wave. This proves that there is uncertainty in the very fabric of nature..
2006-11-18 03:25:47 · answer #3 · answered by derryl 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Strangely enough--YES. Hawking talks about this in "A Brief History of Time". Using a partition with TWO slits in it, he speaks of an experiment where a SINGLE electron gets fired at the partition. On the wall behind it, one can view what happened on the partition by he effect projected onto the wall.
You would think the electron would only go through one slit, but it actally manages to go through BOTH simultaneously! It would be like us trying to walk through two different doors simultaneously!!!
Wild, huh?
2006-11-18 03:16:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes is the short answer. The double slit experiment that was originally done using photons then with electrons has now been done with atoms.
2006-11-18 08:01:31 · answer #5 · answered by black sheep 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
brad... and whoever else mention Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, and the wave-like behavior of matter are talking about electrons, not atoms.
Atoms, I believe, cannot be in two place at the same time.
Electrons seem to be able to do this, or act as though they do, or something. Or, perhaps, it's just that their location is indeterminable.
2006-11-18 03:54:53 · answer #6 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No.
Atoms vibrate when heated. It can move at a very high rate going from one place to another but it cannot be in two places at the same time.
2006-11-18 03:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by Rey Arson II 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Very good! You should check out the Heisenberg Theory of Uncertainty.
2006-11-18 03:14:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it cannot be in 2 places symultaneously, ... however it can be either a particle or a wave...
If it's a particle it will spin, in wave form it's wave length would be equal to it's spin rate...
it can be at 2 places in the same time,
it cannot be in 2 places at the same time
2006-11-18 09:20:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If that were the case , then i would be 2 persons!
2006-11-18 03:18:17 · answer #10 · answered by ishisgreat 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋