Originally posted by spikey
reply to post by dviper785
Just gone back and re-read the original...
...more...
... this action could be as simple as observing it.
You do realise you're barking mad don't you?!
I think it makes perfect sense!
Wikipedia:
Schrödinger's thought experiment was intended as a discussion of the EPR article, named after its authors: Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen in 1935[2].
The EPR article had highlighted the strange nature of quantum superpositions. Broadly stated, a quantum superposition is the combination of all the
possible states of a system (for example, the possible positions of a subatomic particle). The Copenhagen interpretation implies that the
superposition undergoes collapse into a definite state only at the exact moment of quantum measurement.
Now, you said, "You ask: 'Why must I be expected to look in the box?'
Because looking into the box, breaks the superposition - and the cat is now not both dead and alive, but either dead or alive. Personally, i think
there is a third option. The cat is alive, but in the process of dying."
There is actually an infinite amount of options, one for every movement of every subatomic particle, but the experiment highlights 2 because it is
much more simple to understand that way.
This passage also tells me you're still analyzing the quantum expiriement in a classical, linear physical perspective based on certanties.
Above:
The Copenhagen interpretation implies that the superposition undergoes collapse into a definite state only at the exact moment of quantum
measurement.
The REASON the cat takes form of either just alive, or just dead, and not both, is because the two quantum states, are superpositioned as well as
entangled, which means, they are NOT independent of each other, therefore they CANNOT appear at the same time. Each of the two states is DEPENDENT on
the other state.
Ask yourself this - can you measure an objects velocity, and position at the EXACT same time? No, you CANNOT. Heisenberg uncertainty principle
states that position and momentum, cannot both be known to arbitrary precision. Which means, the more precisely one property is known, the less
precisely the other can be known. This is because of the SAME reason as above, quantum entanglement.
Above:
The Copenhagen interpretation implies that the superposition undergoes collapse into a definite state [linear physics] only at the exact moment of
quantum measurement.
Again, this passage from the definition above proves the true nature of the experiment. Schrödinger created the experiment to combat Einstein and
friends BECAUSE of quantum measurement. You said "...i'm saying you have to look inside in order for the thought experiment to come to a
conclusion." The CONCLUSION IS that THERE IS NO CONCLUSION, quantum measure breaks the superposition. That's the concept of the experiment.
You said "but i don't see how the action of a human being observing something, changes that something's superposition."
Quantum entanglement. Non-locality.
You said "Are subatomic particles streaming from one's eyes or brain, and interfereing with the observed object's subatomic particles, to cause
this jump from superposition to a single position, alive, dead etc.?
Think about it..you change an atoms quantum state just by looking at it?!
Does that imply that i can change an objects quantum state just by thinking about that object?"
Yes, yes, and yes!
The reason this makes sense is because quantum mechanics is based on PROBABILITY! Observing ANYTHING makes changes subatomicly, but the statistic
PROBABILITY that this will RADICALLY change our perception of it is much like winning the lottery! -at a nonsubatomic level
it makes perfect sense