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FleaCircus · 04-11-2004, 03:58 PM

I'm not entirely sure that this belongs here; it may be a Tilted Philosophy topic. Oh, well. Here goes:

Quantum physics says that certain properties of unobserved subatomic particles are defined, not precisely, but by a probability wave that collapses to a definite answer (within a given range of uncertainty) once it's observed.

For example, an electron has no definite position in space, just the varying probablilty of being in any number of places, until I observe it. Before I've observed it, it can be said that the electron exists in all of these places simultaneously. But once I've observed it, it exists only where I observed it to be.

My question is this: does this apply to the macroscopic level?

Imagine you have a deck of cards. Shuffle them and place one card face down in front of you. Which card is it? Since we've not observed the value (rank and suit) of the card, it has an equal probabilty of being any one of the 52 cards in a deck. Now flip the card over--it's the 9 of diamonds.

Here's the part that I'm trying to figure out--was that card the 9 of diamonds before you flipped it over? Or did it become the 9 of diamonds because (and only because) you observed it? And if it only became the 9 of diamonds because you observed it, what was printed on its face before you flipped it over?

04-11-2004, 03:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
FleaCircus Insane Location: Denver, CO	Quantum Uncertainty I'm not entirely sure that this belongs here; it may be a Tilted Philosophy topic. Oh, well. Here goes: Quantum physics says that certain properties of unobserved subatomic particles are defined, not precisely, but by a probability wave that collapses to a definite answer (within a given range of uncertainty) once it's observed. For example, an electron has no definite position in space, just the varying probablilty of being in any number of places, until I observe it. Before I've observed it, it can be said that the electron exists in all of these places simultaneously. But once I've observed it, it exists only where I observed it to be. My question is this: does this apply to the macroscopic level? Imagine you have a deck of cards. Shuffle them and place one card face down in front of you. Which card is it? Since we've not observed the value (rank and suit) of the card, it has an equal probabilty of being any one of the 52 cards in a deck. Now flip the card over--it's the 9 of diamonds. Here's the part that I'm trying to figure out--was that card the 9 of diamonds before you flipped it over? Or did it become the 9 of diamonds because (and only because) you observed it? And if it only became the 9 of diamonds because you observed it, what was printed on its face before you flipped it over? __________________ "We must have waffles. We must all have waffles, forthwith. Oh, we must think. We must all have waffles and think, each and every one of us to the very best of his ability." -- Professor Goldthwait Higginson Dorr, Ph.D.