Question about entropy, particles

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Oriononthehorizon
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Entropy Particles
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concepts of entropy in relation to atoms and the effects of observation on quantum particles. Participants explore the nature of entropy, the implications of measurement in quantum mechanics, and the phenomenon of wave-particle duality.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether atoms experience entropy and seeks clarification on this concept.
  • Another participant explains that entropy relates to the statistical behavior of large numbers of atoms, suggesting it is not applicable to individual atoms.
  • A participant inquires about the nature of quantum objects upon observation, asking if they fundamentally change or if only their position is affected.
  • Discussion includes the idea that observing a particle can lead to a well-defined position or momentum, but not both simultaneously, highlighting the uncertainty principle.
  • One participant expresses fascination with the interaction between consciousness and quantum reality, particularly in the context of the double slit experiment.
  • A later reply suggests that wave-particle duality is an outdated concept, indicating a shift in understanding of quantum mechanics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the implications of observation in quantum mechanics and the relevance of entropy to individual atoms. There is no consensus on the nature of wave-particle duality or the role of consciousness in quantum phenomena.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the implications of measurement on quantum states, nor have they clarified the relationship between entropy and individual particles. The discussion reflects differing interpretations of quantum mechanics and its foundational concepts.

Oriononthehorizon
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hello, I am a curious layman, so I might have some misconceptions. I have been pondering some questions, and I was hoping someone might be able to either confirm, or explain this. What I am wondering, if I am understanding this correctly, is why atoms do not experience entropy? If this is true, why? The next thing I was wondering, is about the effect of observation on a particle. Is the particle and wave coexisting in two different dimensions as a wave and a particle, then when observed,is the particle and wave "switching" with each other? Regardless of the answer to the last question, is there an energetic change happening during the collapsing of the wave function happening upon observation? I thank you very much in advance for your time and thought.
 
Science news on Phys.org
Entropy is a concept that is related to the statistical behavior of a very large number of atoms or molecules. Much like saying that the "average value of a given set of 1000 numbers is 25.714" doesn't really tell anything about any single number in that set, the concept of entropy is not useful when explaining the behavior of a single atom or molecule.

Quantum objects don't fundamentally change in nature when they are observed. When a position measurement is made for a particle, the standard deviation of the position probability distribution of the particle typically becomes much smaller than it was before the measurement, but it's still same kind of a quantum object.
 
Thank you! I understand your answer about entropy. About the particle: So you are saying that besides the position of the particle, there is no other fundamental change? Regarding the double slit experiment, I find it fascinating that mind is at least partially interacting with quantum reality, is this actually what is happening, or am I missing something?
 
It depends on what you observe. For example, if you observe the position, then it has a well-defined position, but not a well defined momentum. If you measure the momentum, it has a well-defined momentum, but not a well-defined position. Of course, any measurement also has limited resolution. Wave-particle duality is an old-fashioned idea, so you shouldn't worry about what that means.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 43 ·
2
Replies
43
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K