Particle Perspective: How Relativity Affects Us

[Boltzman Oscillation]

TL;DR Summary

Do particles see use as changing state like we see them changing state?

Some background, I am an undergraduate electrical engineering student with a knack for physics. I plan to attend graduate school for physics but for the meanwhile I've only taken an undergraduate course in QM mechanics, which used griffith's book, and a modern physics course, which covered some special relativity. Having said this, please understand that my erudition is minimum.
I remember watching a physics documentary, in it the narrator explains that particles are constantly "jumping" around. My guess is that this includes how electrons "jump" around from one state to another. From our point of view, the electron would be jumping around but in their point of view wouldn't we be the ones jumping around? Any insight is surely appreciated. Thank you.

 

[PeroK]

If you are a physics student, you should be able to rephrase your question in terms of reference frames and quantum mechanics.

I can't see the relevance to special and general relativity.

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Two ideas come to my mind for the case you stated.
#1 We humans are alive and have complex systems of seeing and consciousness. But the particles are not living creatures and are so simple that they have no such systems of observation.
#2 We humans have macro size bodies that classical mechanics describes the motion fair precisely. But the particles are usually micro size that quantum mechanics describes their motion.
So I am afraid the relativity or mutuality you suspected between human and particles does not hold.

 

[Boltzman Oscillation]

Two ideas come to my mind for the case you stated.
#1 We humans are alive and have complex systems of seeing and consciousness. But the particles are not living creatures and are so simple that they have no such systems of observation.
#2 We humans have macro size bodies that classical mechanics describes the motion fair precisely. But the particles are usually micro size that quantum mechanics describes their motion.
So I am afraid the relativity or mutuality you suspected between human and particles does not hold.

Hmm I understand what you are saying. The first postulate of special relativity states that the laws of physics are the same in all intertial frames of reference. Would that mean that both motions would be described with the same laws? I think I know the answer but I would appreciate your input.

 

[DrClaude]

I remember watching a physics documentary, in it the narrator explains that particles are constantly "jumping" around. My guess is that this includes how electrons "jump" around from one state to another.

That's an overly simplified picture trying to convey to the general public what quantum mechanics would like like in classical terms. Reality is not like that at all.

 

[anuttarasammyak]

I think I know the answer but I would appreciate your input.

For further discussion on the point #2 let us see classical mechanics of the solar system first. The most simple frame of reference says the Sun (more precisely the center of mass of the system) is at still and the Earth goes around it. In this Heliocentric system the laws of motions are written down in the simplest way. Also we can take another frame of reference saying the Earth is at still and the Sun goes around it. In this Geocentric system the laws of motion are more complex but anyway we are making use of it in our daily life.

As a similar case in quantum mechanics let us see hydrogen atom, i.e. an electron and a proton. The most familiar frame of reference says that the proton is at still and electron is moving around. In this orthodox system Schroedinger equation gives analytical solution of electron wave function. What happens if we take another frame of reference where electron is at still and the proton is moving around in analogy with Geocentric frame of reference in the previous paragraph ? It is not a IFR of course. There appears no electron cloud but proton cloud ? I have no idea whether QM behavior of the particle allows us to take the system of the other one is at still for electron and proton in hydrogen atom as we take for the Sun and the Earth.

 

[PeterDonis]

Summary:: Do particles see use as changing state like we see them changing state?

I remember watching a physics documentary, in it the narrator explains that particles are constantly "jumping" around.

This has nothing to do with relativity; it's a (rather garbled) layman's description of quantum mechanics. If you want to ask about QM, please start a new thread in the QM forum.

 

[PeterDonis]

Two ideas come to my mind for the case you stated.
#1 We humans are alive and have complex systems of seeing and consciousness. But the particles are not living creatures and are so simple that they have no such systems of observation.
#2 We humans have macro size bodies that classical mechanics describes the motion fair precisely. But the particles are usually micro size that quantum mechanics describes their motion.
So I am afraid the relativity or mutuality you suspected between human and particles does not hold.

None of this has anything to do with relativity.

 

[PeterDonis]

The first postulate of special relativity states that the laws of physics are the same in all intertial frames of reference. Would that mean that both motions would be described with the same laws?

Obviously yes.

 

[PeterDonis]

As a similar case in quantum mechanics

QM is off topic for this subforum.

 

[PeterDonis]

The topic of this thread does not appear to have anything to do with relativity. Thread closed.