Physicists interested in philosophy may be disoriented, but quantum mechanics, in its simplified form, has become a part of both academic and amateur philosophy. Quantum discoveries, combined with religions from the Near and Far East, have started to permeate yoga classes, meditation sessions, and music festivals. This phenomenon has recently been dubbed the “white man’s utopia” by researcher Amanda Lucia.
The beginning of the 20th century was a period when scientists mistakenly believed that solving a few smaller problems would complete the great book of physics. The foundation was classical physics, known as Newtonian mechanics, supplemented by Maxwell’s discoveries in the field of electromagnetism. This coherent vision was shaken by the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, which showed that the known laws only apply in certain scales and conditions.
One way to understand the physical world is through measurement. In classical physics, this leads to establishing the objective properties of the measured system. This is related to determinism, according to which the investigated objects (bodies, planets, waves) can be partially isolated from the universe, determine their properties, and predict their future behavior. However, quantum mechanics challenges this determinism. Many interpretations suggest that the measured system seems to acquire specific properties only at the moment of measurement.
Physicists try to explain this phenomenon in various ways. One interpretation assumes that measurement devices influence the measured objects and disturb their behavior. Another popular theory is Everett’s many-worlds interpretation, which suggests that different possibilities of the measured object exist simultaneously within a multiverse.
After one hundred years since the discovery of quantum mechanics, we still have limited knowledge of its nature. Many questions remain unanswered, and interpretations of experiments at the smallest scale go beyond the limits of imagination. As Richard Feynman said, if you think you understand quantum mechanics, it means you don’t understand quantum mechanics.
An important discovery in quantum theory was that objects exhibit different properties depending on whether they are observed or not. In quantum theory, there is a phenomenon called “wave function collapse,” which states that objects, such as electrons, behave like particles when observed and like waves when not observed.
Despite these difficulties, physicists continue to strive to understand quantum mechanics and its implications for our understanding of reality. It is an area that provokes questions and requires further research.
FAQ:
What is quantum mechanics?
Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of particles on a very small scale, such as atoms and subatomic particles.
What is the theory of relativity?
The theory of relativity is a physical theory developed by Albert Einstein that describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime.
Source:
Original article: Polityka.pl
The source of the article is from the blog radiohotmusic.it