Discrete Force Fields: Quantized or Infinite?

[GRB 080319B]

If the universe is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_physics#Wheeler.27s_.22it_from_bit.22", then would force fields be quantized (not extend to infinity)? Must force fields extend infinitely for conservation of energy (transmission of em waves)?

 

[DragonPetter]

If the universe is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_physics#Wheeler.27s_.22it_from_bit.22", then would force fields be quantized (not extend to infinity)? Must force fields extend infinitely for conservation of energy (transmission of em waves)?

I think something discrete can still be infinite, so I don't know if you can jump to these kinds of conclusions. Say you have a staircase that goes up in steps, it still could go up infinitely high even though you can only move up it in discrete steps.

Anyway, I think the universe has already been proven to be discrete in many ways through quantum mechanics.

 

[GRB 080319B]

I think something discrete can still be infinite, so I don't know if you can jump to these kinds of conclusions. Say you have a staircase that goes up in steps, it still could go up infinitely high even though you can only move up it in discrete steps.

Anyway, I think the universe has already been proven to be discrete in many ways through quantum mechanics.

To take your staircase example, if walking down the steps is equivalent to decreasing field strength as distance from the source is increased, then a finite amount of steps is required to reach the bottom (field strength = 0, some attractive force) if the height of the steps is not infinitesimal. As opposed to a theoretical ramp, which has a continuous slope and decreases asymptotically to the bottom. Or how the decay of a radioactive atom after one half life results in either one or zero radioactive atoms, is there a discrete amount of field strength lost for a distance increased? Does the field drop off like a step or continuously decrease to 0 as the distance from the source approaches infinity?