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Quantum Physics, anyone?
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Michael

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 10431

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:32 am Post subject:

bun bun wrote:

i love studying physics (and some math). it gives me a warm fuzzy.

highlights:
-> the double-slit experiment (a.k.a. WTF? it can tell when we look at it?!?!)
-> shroedinger's cat (a.k.a. WTF? something can occupy both sides of a boolean state?!?!?)
-> fractals (a.k.a. WTF? you can fit an infinite line into a finite area?!??! or an infinite area into a finite volume?!?!? a.k.a. WTF? an infinite value of a "lower" dimension can fit into a finite value of a "higher" one?!?!?! a.k.a. see next)
-> string theory (a.k.a. WTF????)

fractals ---> Wiki
Which is why mr Mandelbrot felt traditional geometry was completly out of touch with the real world

Germ

Joined: 10 Jul 2006
Posts: 32
Location: Case Western Reserve University

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 2:45 am Post subject:

I've always liked the Michelson-Morley experiment. Though I may be biased.

WheelsOfConfusion

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 11141
Location: Unknown Kaddath

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 4:04 am Post subject: Re: thats what the bleep stands for rite??

Sam wrote:

I'm glad that "What the hoary everfucking shit do we know" was called correctly as a bullshit movie.

I wanted to be the one to do it, though. Crying or Very sad

Elegant Universe isn't about Quantum so much as it is about String "theory," which as I'm sure most people know is not even a testable hypothesis at this point and may not be for a long time.

For a while now "Quantum" Whatevers have been treated by honest authors and snakeoil hucksters alike as a sort of magical bag into which you can fit any sort of plot device, and out of which you can yank any sort of crank mysticism; rather like "gamma rays" that used to make people superhuman and green instead of giving them masses of terminal cancers.
The problem is that the popular treatment of Quantum Whatsits generally hasn't changed in this regard. The truth is that despite all its counterintuitive and mind-boggling claims and implications, QT is solidly scientific and has certain boundaries and limits (though more of the probability sort than the strictly possible sort).

Michael

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 10431

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 4:34 am Post subject:

Germ wrote:

I've always liked the Michelson-Morley experiment. Though I may be biased.

wiki wrote:

Vibrations were further reduced by building the apparatus on top of a huge block of marble, which was then floated in a pool of mercury

That alone, was worth it

Darqcyde

Joined: 11 Jul 2006
Posts: 9086
Location: A false vacuum abiding in ignorance.

Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:58 pm Post subject: Re: thats what the bleep stands for rite??

WheelsOfConfusion wrote:

Sam wrote:

I'm glad that "What the hoary everfucking shit do we know" was called correctly as a bullshit movie.

I wanted to be the one to do it, though. Crying or Very sad

What was that article you posted on the old forum about granular space?
_________________

...if a single leaf holds the eye, it will be as if the remaining leaves were not there.
http://12ozlb.blogspot.com

timmccloud

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 633
Location: Marshall, Wisconsin

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:45 am Post subject:

Huh, I could have sworn I posted a copy of this over here from the "news of the Oh My GoD you have got to be kidding me" thread in the casual chat forum.

Anyway, if you are going to talk about quantum physics, you should know your dimensions....

timmccloud wrote:

...here is something to bend your brain into twisty bits:

"Want to break your brain? Click on this site, and then click 'imagining the ten dimensions'. If any physicists out there want to call bunk on this, feel free..."

Thanks to Aaron Williams of Nodwick.com for pointing this out. It's awesome. I think I'll post it on the physics thread too....

_________________
Wow. Tatsuya is god. Or the dragon...

WheelsOfConfusion

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 11141
Location: Unknown Kaddath

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:11 am Post subject: Re: thats what the bleep stands for rite??

Darqcyde wrote:

What was that article you posted on the old forum about granular space?

I thought Torque posted it?
I remember posting one in which a simulation using granular space only produced a "universe" like our own when cause and effect were assumed from the get-go.
Anyway, I don't remember the link to the specific article.

bun bun
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:23 am Post subject:

Michael wrote:

bun bun wrote:

fractals ---> Wiki
Which is why mr Mandelbrot felt traditional geometry was completly out of touch with the real world

hold up, there, sparky.
i was too lazy to read the entire wiki article, but are you disagreeing with me?!?!?!

cause if so, ima show you summat, boyo.

1. take your magical imaginary paper, and a magical pen that draws perfectly 1 dimensional lines, and draw an equilateral triangle on the paper.
2. draw equilateral triangles, exactly 1/3 the size of the original, that are sitting exactly in the middle of each of the sides of the original.
3. you will now have an object with, if you count only the lines at the perimeter, 12 equal sides, a star of david.
4. Now repeat step two.
5. Again.
6. And on into infinity.
7. You will be able to draw a square around the triangle with a finite area, even though the object inside has in infinite perimeter.
8. the object you have just drawn (sans square, duh) can be replicated by a fractal equation, and is thus a fractal pattern.

this effect can also be achieved with what is known in math circles as "the sponge" where you remove volume from a cube in roughly the same manner, and end up with an object of infinite area inside a finite volume.

plus, you're living in the proof that an infinite amount of a lesser demension can (mathematically, at least, although not according to the laws of physics, because none of these occur within the laws of physics, only within the laws of fractal maths) fit into a higher one.

time is the fourth dimension. would you ever say that, mathematically, a certain amount of time can only contain up to a specific limit of area? that's a non sequitur, right? well, yeah. it is. as is "a specific amount of volume can only contain a certain amount of area."

BOOYAH!

Sojobo

Joined: 12 Jul 2006
Posts: 2393

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:30 am Post subject:

bun bun wrote:

6. And on into infinity.

This step cannot be completed. Your pen will run out of ink.

and I can't tell why you think he was disagreeing with you. Smile

bun bun
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:34 am Post subject:

Sojobo wrote:

bun bun wrote:

6. And on into infinity.

This step cannot be completed. Your pen will run out of ink.

and I can't tell why you think he was disagreeing with you. Smile

Number one:

Rolling Eyes

bun bun wrote:

magical pen

bun bun wrote:

none of these occur within the laws of physics, only within the laws of fractal maths

Number two:
because he only picked up on that one aspect of what i said, and directed me to wikipedia....?

Sojobo

Joined: 12 Jul 2006
Posts: 2393

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:43 am Post subject:

bun bun wrote:

magical pen

You described only its powers of drawing lines of magical thickness! Surely you're not implying I should've assumed it had other magical powers that you didn't tell me about... at least not until your arch-nemesis is just about to defeat you, and your immeasurable will to survive and passion for saving the universe unlocks those new powers!

bun bun
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:50 am Post subject:

Sojobo wrote:

bun bun wrote:

magical pen

GAH!

OCD, much?

i wuv u anyway.

Michael

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 10431

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:38 am Post subject:

bun bun wrote:

hold up, there, sparky.
i was too lazy to read the entire wiki article, but are you disagreeing with me?!?!?!

Uhhhh... no
Your only statement was that you liked fractals. How the hell am I supposed to disagree with that? Nope I was simply going yeah hey cool fractals! you know what else is cool 'bout fractals?

Originally the post was meant to feature examples of the differences between euclidean geometry and 'the real world' i.e. straight lines with a clearly defined length versus curved lines of a fractal-ish persuasion whose length depends highly on the way you measure them. And then I was going to direct you towards Mandelbrot and his comments on euclidean geometry and his proposed switch to a fractal-based approach. But then "I decided I couldn't be arsed" and you got a wiki link instead

bun bun
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:43 am Post subject:

Michael wrote:

bun bun wrote:

hold up, there, sparky.
i was too lazy to read the entire wiki article, but are you disagreeing with me?!?!?!

Okie Dokie! Sorry I took it th' wrong way... still, cool thought experiment, huh...?

Usagi Miyamoto

Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 2166
Location: wish you were here

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:06 am Post subject:

forest," _________________ The reward for a good life is a good life. Last edited by Usagi Miyamoto on Fri Jun 29, 2007 9:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

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