An experiment devised on 1935 where a cat is placed in a steel box along with a Geiger counter, a vial of poison, a hammer, and a radioactive substance. When the radioactive substance decays, the Geiger detects it and triggers the hammer to release the poison, which subsequently kills the cat. The radioactive decay is a random process, and there is no way to predict when it will happen. Physicists say the atom exists in a state known as a superposition—both decayed and not decayed at the same time.
Until the box is opened, an observer doesn't know whether the cat is alive or dead—because the cat's fate is intrinsically tied to whether or not the atom has decayed and the cat would, as Schrödinger put it, be "living and dead ... in equal parts" until it is observed.
Until the box is opened, an observer doesn't know whether the cat is alive or dead—because the cat's fate is intrinsically tied to whether or not the atom has decayed and the cat would, as Schrödinger put it, be "living and dead ... in equal parts" until it is observed.
According to Shrodingers Cat, we can never know whether a Christmas present contains a game or movie CD until you open it.
by Max Larc September 14, 2019
Get the Shrodingers 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
Get the Schrodinger's Cat mug.A hypothetical cat subjected to the difficult job of being both alive and dead at the same time for all eternity.
by Zi October 3, 2004
Get the schrödinger'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.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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