Can tiny particles behave in ways that defy our everyday logic?
Image: Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Can tiny particles behave in ways that defy our everyday logic?
Imagine you're flipping a coin in the air, expecting it to land heads or tails. Now, imagine if the coin could land both heads and tails at the same time until you look at it.
In the world of very small particles, like electrons, they can be in multiple states at once, like our coin being both heads and tails until we check. This is called superposition.
Example
A particle is in a state where it's both spinning clockwise and counterclockwise, but we only see it spinning clockwise when we measure it.
Remember this
Superposition means particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously until observed.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
History of science
How can a particle be in two places at once?
History of quantum mechanics
Why does a coin flip have more outcomes than just heads or tails?
Timeline of quantum computing and communication
Can computers solve problems faster than humans?
Richard Feynman
Can you imagine particles dancing to the tune of quantum mechanics?
History of anthropology
How can we understand the hidden patterns in language and culture?
Cat in a box
Can a cat be both alive and dead at the same time?
Swipe through more Literature concepts
Open Pocket Polymath