Posted on 01/02/2005 1:30:09 AM PST by snarks_when_bored
Ping
The second consequence is that the world is "non-local". That is to say, quantum interactions occur instantaneously over arbitrarily long distances. What is more, there is no mechanism in quantum mechanics which explains how particles "communicate" to match up their quantum properties in this way. For example, if one particle is spinning in one direction, its partner must spin in the opposite. However, the first particle does not have a definite direction until it is measured (Schrödinger's cat again), so the second particle cannot "know" how to point until a measurement is performed on the first particle, by which time the second particle may be millions of kilometres away. Einstein termed this "spooky action-at-a-distance".
In re-reading the article, I find that I must quibble with the use of the word 'interactions' in the first and second sentences of the above-quoted paragraph. As commonly understood in modern physics, interactions involve exchanges of virtual force particles, and the rate of such exchanges never exceeds the speed of light. Hence when the next sentence goes on to say that "quantum interactions occur instantaneously over arbitrarily long distances", this is not accurate. The word that should have been used in these sentences is 'correlations'; this word does not imply that information/energy/momentum are being exchanged instantaneously between the distant quantum particles (an impossibility).
Quibble's end.
From reading the article Einstein certainly was a great scientist. But what real impact has his discoveries made in every day life?
Nice thread, but it's in Chat, where it will surely die. No reason to ping the list. A pity.
Where do you want to start? How about lasers? How about use of atomic energy? Two biggies; there are more.
Nice thread, but it's in Chat, where it will surely die. No reason to ping the list. A pity.
A question: what does the forum location of a thread matter if most of the potential readers of the thread are going to get a 'ping' about it?
Let's turn the question around. What real impact would it have on everyday life if we lived out our lives for hundreds of generations abysmally ignorant of how the universe really worked?
I think it makes a difference to at least be on the right track
Thanks!
Hard to explain, but it happens. Even threads that were very active will die quickly when moved to Chat. It may be related to the way most people have their browsers set up to look at "News/Activism", and not the other forums.
Wavicle Bttt.
I hope you won't mind that I'm placing the matter in your hands.
I'll be away from my computer for most of the day, but I thought ya'll might enjoy a little light Sunday reading.
Happy New Year!
Done, thanks.
Happy New Year!
Welcome, and Happy New Year :)
Heaviside showed in the 1880s that a charge in motion has a compressed electromagnetic field in the direction of motion and that there's an increase in effective mass.
You don't need quantum mechanics to explain the Compton Effect.
What's your information source?
Ask any WW II vet who didn't have to die in an invasion of Japan.
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