Not quite, its not a 50% chance of been dead or alive There is a 100% chance of been dead and 100% chance of been alive at the same time until its observed.
A double slit experiment is a good example, if you fire electrons through a double slit you would expect an outline of the two slits to appear on the screen on the other side. Instead you end up with an interference pattern, even firing one single electron at the slits at a time you end up with an interference pattern on the other side which is seemingly impossible because a single electron cant be interfering with any other electrons. Until you observe the electron going through the slits, it then behaves as you would expect it, making two outlines of slits.
The reason for this is when unobserved the particle is in superposition, it goes through both slits at the same time as a wave of potential, interfers with itself and strikes the other screen.
In affect the electron did the impossible went through the two possible slits at the same time and the two possibilities that happened at the same time interfered with themselves. In the same way, the cat goes through two possible states at the same time when unobserved.
There is a 100% chance of been dead and 100% chance of been alive at the same time until its observed.
A double slit experiment is a good example, if you fire electrons through a double slit you would expect an outline of the two slits to appear on the screen on the other side.
Instead you end up with an interference pattern, even firing one single electron at the slits at a time you end up with an interference pattern on the other side which is seemingly impossible because a single electron cant be interfering with any other electrons.
Until you observe the electron going through the slits, it then behaves as you would expect it, making two outlines of slits.
The reason for this is when unobserved the particle is in superposition, it goes through both slits at the same time as a wave of potential, interfers with itself and strikes the other screen.
In affect the electron did the impossible went through the two possible slits at the same time and the two possibilities that happened at the same time interfered with themselves. In the same way, the cat goes through two possible states at the same time when unobserved.
:-)
Reply
But it's still fun to talk about.
Next step: Casemods!
Reply
Leave a comment