/sci/ - Science & Math

"observing" a photon usually involves absorbing it.

There's no light to bounce off photons, silly, photons ARE light.

>>5058802
Really not answering OPs legit question...

>we are just a bunch of particles and we do what we do

Wait, how can particles do anything? I mean I understand like magnetic forces and shit, but how can particles move themselves by forming into muscles? That's like if light changed its direction or something just cause it felt like it.

>>5058801
particle duality is a buzzword that means:
1) when measuring certain quantities, A behaves like a *classical* wave
2) when measuring certain others, A behaves like a *classical* particle

the mere act of seeing something is an observation (not actually in the act of absorbing the photon, but because absorbing it proves such photon exist with such and such properties, among those being "came from object A due to process X).

the "collapsing" effect has an analogous mean in simple probability: you roll a die, and don't look at it. The die can be in either of the 6 states representing the faces. Thus, you can express the die with a wavefunction that is a superposition of six independent states (an homogeneous mix at that: 1/sqrt(6)(s1+s2+...+s6)), all of which are the possible result of the measure Watching_The_Dice.

When you apply the measure WTD at the system, the result is one of WTD's possible result, with varying probabilities depending on the die you're watching (in this example, they're all equal). Thus, observing forces the system in one of WTD's observable states.

>>5058805
stupid question. Physics don't work that way.
We say:
-Every time X happens, we get the Y result
-Thus we can formulate a law that states X->Y

repeat and refine

>>5058811
So when what law causes us to be able to move our arms at will and pick up things when other particles can't decide how they move?

>>5058813
how old are you?

>>5058813
-[Forces] keep atoms stable
-EM force keeps atoms bound in molecules
-weaker EM forces keep molecules in specified relative positions
-a weak current can provide enough energy to overcome weak EM forces and change the relative positions of molecules

thus weak neuronal current provides enough energy to let muscular fibres (chains of molecules) to contract. As muscles are bound to bones, if the two points they are anchored to are not locked in place (ie: there's a joint between them), the net force will close the two bones together.

that's the jist of it

>>5058818
it's actually slighly more complicated, as the energy transferral is mediated by chemicals, not by mere electrons, but that's basically it

caution, another /sigh/ thread derailment is currently in progress.

>>5058818
That's not an answer

>>5058822
/sigh/?
isn't this just a kid confuse by how stuff works? is it a troll?

>>5058824
I beg to differ.

which part of your question does not answer? if so, care to reformulate your question in clearer terms?

Another confused kid here.

I can't understand how can we use those quantum states for calculation if we can't "access" them without observation but if we observe a particle all of its state should collapse into a single one.