Ignorance about a particle in a box

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conceptual implications of having an object, specifically a particle, whose properties such as energy or speed cannot be determined or detected. Participants explore whether physics can still apply to such an object and the philosophical implications of knowledge and detection in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that physics applies to the object regardless of whether one can detect its properties.
  • Another participant uses an analogy about their children to illustrate that the laws of physics presumably apply to entities regardless of one's knowledge of their state.
  • A later post references the uncertainty principle, indicating a connection to foundational concepts in quantum mechanics.
  • One participant dismisses the discussion as trivial and suggests prior knowledge of the particle in a box problem is necessary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relevance and seriousness of the original question. While some argue that physics applies universally, others find the question trivial or misguided.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of clarity regarding the definitions of "knowing" and "detecting" in the context of physics, as well as the implications of the uncertainty principle on the discussion.

Quarlep
Messages
257
Reaction score
4
Lets suppose we have an object but we cannot tell anything about it.Energy,speed anything you can imagine.If there's no speed or energy,Is this means we can't tell object situation in physics Is that possible.Cause we have a object but we cannot describe the situation of it (I mean using physics).So physics don't work in that object?

Mentor's note: In a later post, Quarlep clarified that the question he's trying to ask is:
If we have a particle, but there's no way to detect it, does physics still work on that object?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Physics will work perfectly well on the object whether YOU know anything about it or not.
 
My kids are somewhere in my house but right now I don't know where they are or what they are doing. I'm hope the laws of physics still applies to them.

What was the question again?

Are you asking about..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle
 
As Zz said, this is silly. Thread closed.

Please read up on the particle in a box problem before posting another iteration of it.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Books about Particle Physics and some clarifications
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
High School The Problem with Point Particles
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
High School Understanding Particle Motion in Deep Intergalactic Space
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
High School How Can Point Particles Have Cross Sections?
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
5K
High School Are real theories undiscoverable from effective field theories?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Confused about virtual particles
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Graduate CDF measures W mass higher than predicted
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
7K
Graduate Dyson's View Of Wavefunction Collapse
  • · Replies 90 ·
4
Replies
90
Views
6K
Undergrad What would a hypothetical quark-quark collision yield?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad What is the true nature of microscopic particles when not interacting?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K