The story of Schroedinger's cat (an epic poem)

Thread starter Swamp Thing
Start date Dec 19, 2005

In summary, the story of Schroedinger's cat is a thought experiment proposed by physicist Erwin Schroedinger in 1935 that highlights the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics. It involves a cat being placed in a box with a device that has a 50% chance of releasing a deadly poison, and according to quantum mechanics, the cat exists in a state of being both alive and dead until the box is opened and the state is observed. The story is not based on a true story, but rather serves as a critique of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. It challenges our understanding of classical physics and the concept of causality, and serves as a metaphor for the principles of superposition and entanglement in quantum mechanics. While

Dec 19, 2005

Swamp Thing

Insights Author

Couldn't resist sharing this; hope at least some of you will find it new.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_122.html#fark

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Dec 19, 2005

vanesch

Staff Emeritus

Science Advisor

Gold Member

:rofl:

great read !

Dec 20, 2005

Lisa!

Gold Member

Thanks to share it with us!

Dec 20, 2005

Gale

i've read that before, but its still pretty clever. i like the whimsical ryhming. makes quantum mechanics seem like fun!

Dec 20, 2005

Danger

Gold Member

Love it, Swampy! Thanks for sharing.

1. What is the story of Schroedinger's cat?

The story of Schroedinger's cat is a thought experiment proposed by physicist Erwin Schroedinger in 1935. In this experiment, a cat is placed in a box with a device that has a 50% chance of releasing a deadly poison. According to quantum mechanics, the cat exists in a state of being both alive and dead until the box is opened and the state is observed.

2. Is the story of Schroedinger's cat based on a true story?

No, the story of Schroedinger's cat is purely a thought experiment and has not been physically conducted. It was proposed as a critique of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics.

3. What is the significance of the story of Schroedinger's cat?

The story of Schroedinger's cat highlights the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics and raises questions about the role of observation and measurement in determining reality. It also challenges our understanding of classical physics and the concept of causality.

4. How does the story of Schroedinger's cat relate to quantum mechanics?

The story of Schroedinger's cat is a metaphor for the principles of superposition and entanglement in quantum mechanics. It illustrates the idea that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously until they are observed or measured.

5. Has the story of Schroedinger's cat been proven or disproven?

The story of Schroedinger's cat is a thought experiment and cannot be proven or disproven. However, the principles it represents have been supported by numerous experiments and are an integral part of quantum mechanics.