Can Macroscopic Objects Tunnel Through Walls According to Quantum Mechanics?

AI Thread Summary
Macroscopic objects have an extremely low probability of tunneling through walls according to quantum mechanics, making such events virtually impossible. The discussion references a personal anecdote about a sponge ball seemingly passing through a wall, but this is dismissed as a misunderstanding of quantum principles. The likelihood of macroscopic tunneling is compared to highly improbable scenarios, emphasizing that mathematical possibility does not equate to practical occurrence. Overall, the consensus is that such tunneling does not happen in reality. The conclusion reinforces that the observed event is not attributable to quantum mechanics.
Suyash Singh
ok i read about that quantum mechanics article about how macroscopic objects have a extremely low probability of passing through a wall.Now i very clearly remember that 5-6 years back i have noticed my smiley sponge ball going into a place it cannot go to.Do you think it may have gone through the wall ?
 
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Suyash Singh said:
ok i read about that quantum mechanics article about how macroscopic objects have a extremely low probability of passing through a wall.Now i very clearly remember that 5-6 years back i have noticed my smiley sponge ball going into a place it cannot go to.Do you think it may have gone through the wall ?
No, I absolutely do not. The fact that something is mathematically possible does not mean it will happen. You misunderstand the concept, in this context, of "extremely low".
 
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Extremely low as in Michael Jackson coming back from the dead and giving you the winning Powerball numbers for the next 10 drawings would be more likely. :oldwink:
 
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