A cat which is neither alive nor dead, but rather in a state of stasis, in a box. There is also in the box a geiger counter and a tiny radioactive particle, the counter wired to a vial of hydrochloric acid (that got your attention). After a set amount of time, the particle is 50% likely to decay, setting off a mechanism triggered by the geiger counter which smashes the vial and kills the cat. Supposedly, after that set amount of time, if no one looks in the box, the whole system is in a state of stasis because the cat is 50% likely to be alive and 505 likely to be dead, and is thus neither alive nor dead, but both. At least, until someone opens rhe box. There are all sorts of conundrums associated with this thesis, and it is very controversial.
by Braavosi May 16, 2003
Get the Schroedinger's Cat mug.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.A hypothetical experiment in quantum mechanics that allegedly proves that a cat can be alive and dead at the same time. This conclusion smack's of Bishop Berkeley's notion that if nobody is in a forest to hear a falling tree, the tree makes no sound.
Schroedinger's Cat is not half alive and half dead. It is either alive or dead, and we have to open the box to find out. If we lose interest and refuse to open the box, the chances of the cat being dead increase greatly with time.
by Cap'n Bullmoose November 11, 2006
Get the Schroedinger's Cat mug.famous experiment in quantum physics that helps explain the spiritual truth of the world as living relationship.
This proves that we are all in relaitonshp to one another. The observer, merely by abserving something, INFLUENCES what is observed. The cat is equally alive and dead until someone opens the box and looks inside.
by Anonymous September 14, 2003
Get the Schroedinger's Cat mug.The subject of an experiment conducted by mad crazy quatum physics man named Schrödinger. Here is the kicker of the experiment: Most believe that Schrödinger was attempting to prove that the cat was both dead and alive at a single point in time. This is not quite true. The fellow was merely attempting to prove that the rules regarding microscopic objects (such as particles that can be in "dual states" so to speak) are in no way governed by the established laws for macroscopic objects (a cat). You see, it is well established that a cat is either A. Dead or B. Alive. Schrödinger put his cat in a solid lead box with a vial of gaseous hydrocyanic acid (HCN(g)) and a radioactive isotope with an established half life of about one hour. Because a single particle was used, the chance of it decaying was 50/50. The vial would be broken when the particle decayed, and the cat, being rather allergic to hydrocyanic acid, would die. The problem arises here. After an hour, the single radioactive particle, speaking on quatum terms, was in a dual state of decay and, eh, not decay. The laws of quatum physics say that all items in a closed system can be related with well known and well tested equations. Using these equations, the cat is in a dual state of being dead and alive. Not possible. Therefore, there can be no assumptions made regarding the relations of macroscopic objects and microscopic objects.
However, I believe the cat was just a clear cut zombie cat.
However, I believe the cat was just a clear cut zombie cat.
Schrödinger's Cat is actually so complicated that even though I tried to explain it in the simpliest terms I could, I made no sense.
by Nope4810 April 19, 2005
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"Schrödinger's Cat is actually so complicated that even though I tried to explain it in the simpliest terms I could, I made no sense."
...Don't worry. The analogy is supposed to not make sense. Schrödinger was trying to illustrate how absurd it is to apply quantum mechanics on a macro scale.
"Schrödinger's Cat is actually so complicated that even though I tried to explain it in the simpliest terms I could, I made no sense."
...Don't worry. The analogy is supposed to not make sense. Schrödinger was trying to illustrate how absurd it is to apply quantum mechanics on a macro scale.
Schrödinger's Cat is a deliberately confusing analogy trying to show how absurd the theory behind it actually is.
by lipplog August 30, 2015
Get the Schrödinger's Cat mug.A hypothetical cat that is simultaneously dead and alive because we don't know whether the nuclear particle has decayed or not, releasing the trigger that kills the cat. Used as an example that quantum mechanics is completely absurd when we look at it from a mundane perspective.
by inquilinekea July 3, 2005
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