Quantum weirdness

[Angry Ayrab]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

It's not possible to be completely disconnected and still observe an event. I think that our presence alters the event in some fashion, but how exactly? That's beyond my understanding, though I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's somehow related to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in the 10th or 11th dimension, or something along those lines.

Yeah, that is what the heisenberg is explaining, but what is this 10th and 11th demension. If you know position with a high degree of certainty, you can't know velocity with a high degree of certainty, and vice versa. Also, it works for time and energy. But forgive me I never took the extra demensions thing... could you explain.

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by Angry Ayrab

Yeah, that is what the heisenberg is explaining, but what is this 10th and 11th demension. If you know position with a high degree of certainty, you can't know velocity with a high degree of certainty, and vice versa. Also, it works for time and energy. But forgive me I never took the extra demensions thing... could you explain.

I'm sure you've heard of M-theory and Superstring theory.

[ygolo]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

It's not possible to be completely disconnected and still observe an event. I think that our presence alters the event in some fashion, but how exactly? That's beyond my understanding, though I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's somehow related to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in the 10th or 11th dimension, or something along those lines.

I like Sidney Coleman's explanation (in the "in your face" video). Basically, the wave function doesn't actually collapse, but since the measuring aparatus is itself a quantum-mechanical system, it is always true the measuement will measure a collapsed state.

The cat actually is in a superposition of dead and alive states, but being quantum mechanical systems ourselves, we will notice him in either a completely alive or completely dead state (as amazingly sci-fi-ish as that seems).

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by ygolo

I like Sidney Coleman's explanation (in the "in your face" video). Basically, the wave function doesn't actually collapse, but since the measuring aparatus is itself a quantum-mechanical system, it is always true the measuement will measure a collapsed state.

The cat actually is in a superposition of dead and alive states, but being quantum mechanical systems ourselves, we will notice him in either a completely alive or completely dead state (as amazingly sci-fi-ish as that seems).

Interesting idea. I haven't seen that video...gonna watch it now.

[Angry Ayrab]

Honestly, I think I am the last human on earth to not have read about m or string theory. I know this sounds douchebaggish and maybe retarded, but late at night in the hospital when I have nothing to do. I go to the abandanoned chart board and sit their and work on my own grand unified theory... complete with horrendous looking mathematical explanations and all. Obviously, I haven't yet got it figured out.

So this string and m-theory thing, am I really missing out some total coolness?

[entropie]

It is an attempt to visualize what until now was described through mathematics, the quantum world.

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by Angry Ayrab

Honestly, I think I am the last human on earth to not have read about m or string theory. I know this sounds douchebaggish and maybe retarded, but late at night in the hospital when I have nothing to do. I go to the abandanoned chart board and sit their and work on my own grand unified theory... complete with horrendous looking mathematical explanations and all. Obviously, I haven't yet got it figured out.

So this string and m-theory thing, am I really missing out some total coolness?

It's not the most interesting subject to me (but still fairly so), probably part of the reason I'm not a theoretical physicist. I only mentioned them because you asked about the extra dimensions.

[Angry Ayrab]

Man I hate you guys now. I just started watching the Nova special on M and string theory and I am just gritting my teeth because they are just claiming things and I am wanting to see some math... Lol, I feel like a total douche now because I always bash mathematical proof.

[Lateralus]

Originally Posted by Angry Ayrab

Man I hate you guys now. I just started watching the Nova special on M and string theory and I am just gritting my teeth because they are just claiming things and I am wanting to see some math... Lol, I feel like a total douche now because I always bash mathematical proof.

I've never seen any sort of mathematical proof for those theories, but I imagine it would probably be pretty boring...and I love math.

[Babylon Candle]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I've never seen any sort of mathematical proof for those theories, but I imagine it would probably be pretty boring...and I love math.

i was under the impression that string theory/m theory although not testable/provable.... had mathematical proofs that make them more than just fantasy???

1. ???string theory is necessary because splitting photons does not always give off the same particles (there must be stuff smaller?)???
2. working the math, its discovered that these strings need to move in more than 4 dimensions (the 4th being time)
3. these 11 or 12 dimensions being included in the theory make it "m theory" complete with our universe being the "membrane" stretched string???

i think im on some sort of general direction that may end up in the vicinity of the right track...but i need a little help.