What is Zeno's paradox and can it be resolved?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tenenbaum
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Quote
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Zeno's paradox, exploring its implications and potential resolutions. Participants examine the paradox from various angles, including its mathematical and physical interpretations, as well as its relevance in real-world scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants describe Zeno's paradox as illustrating that one can approach a destination infinitely without actually reaching it, particularly in the context of dividing distances.
  • Others argue that the paradox breaks down at the atomic level, suggesting that while one can theoretically divide distances infinitely, practical movement allows one to get "close enough" to a destination.
  • A participant challenges the application of the paradox by stating that physical distances, such as crossing a street, are finite and not subject to infinite division in reality.
  • There is a suggestion that Zeno's paradox defines a mathematical situation that does not correspond to physical reality, indicating a distinction between mathematical abstraction and practical experience.
  • Some participants propose that infinite series can be summed, hinting at a mathematical resolution to the paradox.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of Zeno's paradox, with no consensus reached on its resolution or relevance to physical reality. Some see it as a significant philosophical issue, while others downplay its importance.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the nature of physical distances versus mathematical concepts of infinity. The discussion reflects a range of interpretations and applications of Zeno's paradox without definitive conclusions.

Tenenbaum
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
No matter how close you ever think you are, there is always a infinite distance between.

Why is it wrong?
Why is it right?

I have no experience in physics, but I feel you guys could answer better then anyone else.


Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
That's Zeno's paradox. It breaks down on the atomic level.
You get half-way to your girlfriend, then half of that distance, then half of the remainder, and so on. So you never actually get there... but you can get close enough for all practical purposes. :biggrin:
 
two reasons the above girl friend scenario will not apply!

Dolly Parton !
 
Ranger Mike said:
Dolly Parton !

Please don't double-post... :rolleyes:
 
... I suddenly feel the urge for experimentation ...
 
Danger said:
That's Zeno's paradox. It breaks down on the atomic level.
You get half-way to your girlfriend, then half of that distance, then half of the remainder, and so on. So you never actually get there... but you can get close enough for all practical purposes. :biggrin:

Yeah, but assuming constant speed, it also takes you half as long to go through each step, so you end up doing an infinite amount of those half-step moves in a finite amount of time.
 
I can stroll across the street because it's about twenty feet distance. That's finite. The idea that we can divide the distance infinitely (at least mathematically) has nothing to do with actually crossing the physical distance because I'm not being divided (or shrunk down) infinitely. The street isn't being divided. Nor is the sidewalk. These dimensions are set and stable.
 
This is one of many recurring topics. Perhaps there should be a FAQ for these, where the solutions and links to resources are given. Then where a moderator sees that, the OP can be directed there followed by a lock.
 
Tenenbaum said:
No matter how close you ever think you are, there is always a infinite distance between.

Why is it wrong?
Why is it right?

As this is stated, it is clearly not true. If I am 3 metres, say, from my destination, there is certainly not an infinite distance between us.
 
  • #10
Even Zeno's paradox isn't really a big deal if you understand that it defines a mathematical situation that isn't physically real.
 
  • #11
russ_watters said:
Even Zeno's paradox isn't really a big deal if you understand that it defines a mathematical situation that isn't physically real.

Or that infinite series can be summed.
 

Similar threads

Is Zeno's Paradox a Valid Argument Against Motion?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Solving Zeno's Paradox: The Flaw in the Notion of Infinity
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
8K
High School What is the Dean Paradox and How Does it Relate to Zeno's Paradox?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Solving the Infinite Time Paradox: Zeno's Argument Explained
  • · Replies 59 ·
2
Replies
59
Views
26K
Graduate Zeno's Arrow Paradox: Resolving Motion Impossibility
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Connection between Set Theory and Navier-Stokes equations?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Debunking Zeno's Paradox with Galileo's Speed
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
High School The M paradox
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Is zero of nothing nothing? If so, would you write units for nothing?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Graduate Is there a lost information paradox for quantum physics?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K