Is a cat in an isolated box that has a 50% chance of getting killed in the next hour due to a quantum event - such as a particle decaying with 50% chance, and which will release a poison that will kill the cat. If the particle does not decay, then cat will remain alive.
Schroedinger/Einstein claimed that after an hour with the box lid closed, the cat must be either dead or alive, each with 50% probability - this is just common sense. Bohr/Heisenberg claimed that with the lid closed, the cat is neither alive nor dead, but 50% alive AND 50% dead at the same time. That is the cat is in 2 mutually exclusive states at the same time!
Bohr's position is the "Principle of Superposition" and is central to quantum physics.
Empirical experments show that Bohr was correct, and Schroedinger wrong - up to a point. If the observer happens to be in the box, he will see what Schroedinger asserts. If the observer is out of the box and cannot see inside the box, then Bohr is right.
So Bohr and Schroedinger were both neither right nor wrong! What irony. The answer is "who is asking". Is the observer privy (entangled) with the cat or not. Note: this is unrelated to the popular concept that "the observer influences the observed". There is no influence by the observer.
Schroedinger/Einstein claimed that after an hour with the box lid closed, the cat must be either dead or alive, each with 50% probability - this is just common sense. Bohr/Heisenberg claimed that with the lid closed, the cat is neither alive nor dead, but 50% alive AND 50% dead at the same time. That is the cat is in 2 mutually exclusive states at the same time!
Bohr's position is the "Principle of Superposition" and is central to quantum physics.
Empirical experments show that Bohr was correct, and Schroedinger wrong - up to a point. If the observer happens to be in the box, he will see what Schroedinger asserts. If the observer is out of the box and cannot see inside the box, then Bohr is right.
So Bohr and Schroedinger were both neither right nor wrong! What irony. The answer is "who is asking". Is the observer privy (entangled) with the cat or not. Note: this is unrelated to the popular concept that "the observer influences the observed". There is no influence by the observer.
by Litwitquak January 11, 2008
Get the Schroedinger's Cat mug.1: Why does Ishmael look like he just fucked the neighbor’s cat?
2: He just found out that his dick is smaller than his wife’s.
2: He just found out that his dick is smaller than his wife’s.
by Buttering Your Biscuits September 29, 2019
Get the Just Fucked the Neighbor’s Cat mug.Related Words
by Joels Cat Admirer June 29, 2022
Get the Joel's Cat mug.A link with the real world and the spiritual world. A familiar that travels on the other side - can be used good or evil depending on the Cat's owner, type of magic, message or mission the cat is send on. Witch's cats communicate with the dead since of all the animals they are the most senitive to the deads' presence. Usually a black or darker cat with intelligence and an attitude - not your normal house cat.
The witch's cat is a holleween favorite and a witch usually has one close at hand.
The witch's cat picked up his ears and refused to go into that room, he was aware of the spirits that were there.
The witch's cat picked up his ears and refused to go into that room, he was aware of the spirits that were there.
by D M McElreath July 30, 2008
Get the witch's cat mug.A nonsensical experiment suggested due to an equally nonsensical theory namely Quantum Mechanics. In this experiment a cute kitty cat is enclosed in a box containing say a sealed jar of a poisonous gas. boooo...
The trigger for the release of the gas inside the box is the decay of some radioactive atom. If the radioactive atom decays it sets of a hammer like action which breaks the jar containing the gas which instantly kills the cat but if it doesn't decay the cat stays alive and kicking. If the half life of the radioactive atom chosen as a trigger is say one hour then for that one hour according to laws of Quantum Mechanics the cat is neither alive nor dead but is in some sort of a superposition of both the states. Bizzare?? Definitely.
So it all boils down as to what is the true nature of radioactive decay. Is it spontaneous or not. To this day radioactivity is considered a random process. Though I believe that this is incorrect.
The trigger for the release of the gas inside the box is the decay of some radioactive atom. If the radioactive atom decays it sets of a hammer like action which breaks the jar containing the gas which instantly kills the cat but if it doesn't decay the cat stays alive and kicking. If the half life of the radioactive atom chosen as a trigger is say one hour then for that one hour according to laws of Quantum Mechanics the cat is neither alive nor dead but is in some sort of a superposition of both the states. Bizzare?? Definitely.
So it all boils down as to what is the true nature of radioactive decay. Is it spontaneous or not. To this day radioactivity is considered a random process. Though I believe that this is incorrect.
This was only a thought experiment devised by Erwin Schrodinger in 1935 to show the incompleteness and bizarreness of Quantum Mechanics.
I repeat no live cats were used for the Schrodinger's cat experiment you cat lovers. meow
I repeat no live cats were used for the Schrodinger's cat experiment you cat lovers. meow
by anuraganimax December 13, 2009
Get the Schrodinger's cat mug.commonly substituted for the chinese food dish known as 'General Tso's chicken' in some lower end chinese food restaurants. such an establishment may be identified by the presence of several live traps in the back alley. some of these may contain a cat, raccoon, or small dog, awaiting their newfound destiny as a cleverly disguised menu item.
by carlton berry September 8, 2007
Get the General Tso's cat mug.This is when you dream or think of music but when you try to play it you find it is both not in your head and in your head at the same time.
I woke up with the perfect melody but when I tried to play it the freaking thing was both there and not there at the same time - freaking Schrödinger's cat music!
by saskers January 29, 2021
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