Simple intro about Schrödinger's cat metaphor

In summary, the conversation discusses the importance of checking original sources and avoiding retelling sensationalized pop sci stories. The participants also mention the prevalence of this issue in the forum and suggest guiding newbies towards critical thinking and understanding the true nature of physics.
  • #1
houlahound
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Very brief and no math, the author is more about the veracity of checking original sources over retelling pop sci stories.

All has been said here previously but scattered over many threads and easy to miss for newbs.

Might be helpful to beginners who's only exposure is sensational pop sci.

https://betterexplained.com/articles/gotcha-shrodingers-cat/
 
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  • #2
Well, but this article also gets it wrong. Entanglement is nowadays an established observational fact, and you cannot simply claim as Schrödinger did that it's simply "absurd" and that's why you don't need to care.

For me, the only way out today is to take QT seriously and that the meaning of quantum states is that of probabilities about the outcome of measurements and nothing else. We had tons of useless discussions on these interpretational issues never coming to a conclusion. We don't need to repeat them in yet another thread.
 
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  • #3
Don't disagree but please consider that IMO a lot of newbs find there way to this forum precisely because of the pop sci interpretation stuff.

an opportunity to engage them and steer them to thinking clearer and to appreciate what physics really is?
 

Related to Simple intro about Schrödinger's cat metaphor

1. What is Schrödinger's cat metaphor?

Schrödinger's cat metaphor is a thought experiment developed by physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935 to illustrate the concept of quantum superposition. It involves placing a hypothetical cat in a sealed box with a vial of poison that will be released based on the random decay of a radioactive atom. According to quantum mechanics, until the box is opened and the cat is observed, it exists in a state of both alive and dead, representing the uncertainty of quantum particles.

2. Why is Schrödinger's cat important?

Schrödinger's cat is important because it highlights the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics and the challenges of understanding the behavior of subatomic particles. It also raises questions about the role of observation and measurement in quantum physics.

3. Is Schrödinger's cat experiment real?

No, Schrödinger's cat experiment is a thought experiment and has never been conducted in real life. It was developed to illustrate the principles of quantum mechanics and is not possible to replicate in the physical world.

4. What does Schrödinger's cat metaphor mean?

The metaphor of Schrödinger's cat represents the bizarre and seemingly contradictory principles of quantum mechanics, such as the idea of superposition and the role of observation in determining the state of a particle. It highlights the limitations of our understanding of the quantum world and the challenges of interpreting its behavior.

5. What are the implications of Schrödinger's cat metaphor?

The implications of Schrödinger's cat metaphor are still debated among scientists and philosophers. Some argue that it calls into question the idea of objective reality and suggests that observation and consciousness play a role in determining the state of the universe. Others argue that it simply highlights the limitations of our current understanding of quantum mechanics and does not have any profound implications beyond that.

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