Only someone who knows physics will get this one

Joklem · **Posted:** Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:25 am

"If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don't understand quantum mechanics."

Monotheist · **Posted:** Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:48 am

"what's new in the world of physics?"

"nothing."

Aestu · **Posted:** Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:58 am

If, according to your paradox, it is not possible to know quantum mechanics, doesn't that mean that the person who thinks he knows it is only less knowledgeable than the person who knows he does not in that he knows he does not know it?

Therefore, isn't the field fundamentally vacuous? Or is that your point?

Usdk · **Posted:** Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:17 pm

What does miss cleo have to do with this joke

dek · **Posted:** Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:32 pm

I'd say he's making a pun at the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Joklem · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 3:14 am

Because the quantum world works in no way like ours. Common sense no longer applies in physics.

It's not very hard to understand how it behaves on the surface, but why it is so or the whole implications are unknown. There are plenty of philosophical and theoretical interpretations.

If you want to have your mind blown, watch Feynman's lectures, he starts with some basics:

http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/45 Part 1: Photons - Corpuscles of Light
http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/46 Part 2: Fits of Reflection and Transmission - Quantum Behaviour
http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/47 Part 3: Electrons and their Interactions.
http://www.vega.org.uk/video/programme/48 Part 4: New Queries

Aestu · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:59 am

So do you understand quantum mechanics?

Joklem wrote:

Because the quantum world works in no way like ours. Common sense no longer applies in physics.

It's not very hard to understand how it behaves on the surface, but why it is so or the whole implications are unknown. There are plenty of philosophical and theoretical interpretations.

Quote:

Idealism and metaphysics are the easiest things in the world, because people can talk as much nonsense as they like without basing it on objective reality or having it tested against reality. Materialism and dialectics, on the other hand, need effort. They must be based on and tested by objective reality. Unless one makes the effort one is liable to slip into idealism and metaphysics.

dek · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:06 am

To be fair, that can be said of just about any science. We have a pretty good idea about gravity, but we have no idea why it is. There are always horizons to our knowledge, with people near the horizon and people who aren't but are familiar with the more common knowledge.

Aestu · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:41 am

dek wrote:

To be fair, that can be said of just about any science. We have a pretty good idea about gravity, but we have no idea why it is. There are always horizons to our knowledge, with people near the horizon and people who aren't but are familiar with the more common knowledge.

"Why" has no meaning in the context of a fundamental.

dek · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:04 am

Aestu wrote:

dek wrote:

To be fair, that can be said of just about any science. We have a pretty good idea about gravity, but we have no idea why it is. There are always horizons to our knowledge, with people near the horizon and people who aren't but are familiar with the more common knowledge.

"Why" has no meaning in the context of a fundamental.

Gravity isn't a fundamental, it is a force exerted by matter which we cannot explain, only describe. Thus, "why" is the question we most want to answer about it.

Usdk · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:14 pm

rename this to Astrophysics is also a sham.

Joklem · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:00 pm

No, I don't understand quantum mechanics. I understand the rules by which they behave on the surface. That's exactly what I said, and you're Aestu-twisting my words.

Scientists are comfortable with the fact that they don't know everything, but finding out new things is interesting.

This is metaphysics?

You don't like it? Tough. Go live in another universe where the rules of nature are simpler.

Tehra · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:29 pm

Joklem wrote:

No, I don't understand quantum mechanics. I understand the rules by which they behave on the surface. That's exactly what I said, and you're Aestu-twisting my words.

This is metaphysics?

You don't like it? Tough. Go live in another universe where the rules of nature are simpler.

I prefer living in the one where a bird dropping a baguette can trash your billion dollar toy.

Joklem · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:41 pm

Tehra wrote:

I prefer living in the one where a bird dropping a baguette can trash your billion dollar toy.

Unfortunately they're the same one.

Tehra · **Posted:** Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:47 pm

Joklem wrote:

Tehra wrote:

I prefer living in the one where a bird dropping a baguette can trash your billion dollar toy.

Unfortunately they're the same one.

Fortunately nature has some pretty good rules.

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