What physicists think about physics

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A survey among physicists explores the concept of "real" in physics, prompting participants to consider various interpretations. There is a call for responses from individuals directly engaged in science to differentiate views between scientists and laypeople. Participants express that perceptions, such as color and hallucinations, are subjective, while measurable phenomena are deemed real regardless of perception. The discussion emphasizes the importance of context in defining reality within physics. Overall, the survey aims to deepen understanding of how physicists perceive reality in their field.

Please check the things that are real.

  • The earth

    Votes: 9 75.0%
  • Colors

    Votes: 6 50.0%
  • Wavelength

    Votes: 9 75.0%
  • Hallucinations

    Votes: 6 50.0%
  • Atoms

    Votes: 10 83.3%
  • Excited states of atoms

    Votes: 7 58.3%
  • Mass

    Votes: 9 75.0%
  • Wave-function - state of a system

    Votes: 7 58.3%
  • Electrons

    Votes: 10 83.3%
  • Direction of time

    Votes: 6 50.0%

  • Total voters
    12
  • Poll closed .
Ivan Seeking
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A survey taken among physicists about the concept of "real" in physics is linked and I think most interesting. First, I am posting a similar poll for comparison.

The survey is at the bottom of the linked page:
http://physicsweb.org/article/world/15/4/2/1#2

Note: I will post this in the philosophy section for comparison also.
Please vote in the forum most appropriate to your perspective; but not both.

from Wimms
It would be interesting if here voted only people who are directly engaged in some kind of science. Then comparison between scientists and laymen in this site would be revealed.

I voted in phil forum and suggest nonscientists to do same.

I agree. Thanks Wimms
 
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All of them are real...and many others...
 
I left out color and hallucination. I'm not a physicist anyway.
 
It would be interesting if here voted only people who are directly engaged in some kind of science. Then comparison between scientists and laymen in this site would be revealed.

I voted in phil forum and suggest nonscientists to do same.
 
QUOTE]Originally posted by Dal
I left out color and hallucination. I'm not a physicist anyway. [/QUOTE]

My humble opinion.

Colors and hallucinations depends on people's perception. They are real or not depending on a man/woman perception.

The rest, since it can be measured, the measure is the same in the same conditions, and do not depends on the man's perception, are real.
 
So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
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