fandomhigh | Physics, Monday, Class #14, Period 4

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Physics, Monday, Class #14, Period 4

"Hello, everyone. Welcome back. Today we'll be learning about quantum mechanics, which refers to the study of the way in which molecules, atoms, electrons, protons, and other subatomic particles interact with each other."

She went on to explain the theory, as well as the interactions with other subjects they'd studied, as well as its practical applications.

Then, she placed a sealed box on the table. "Inside this box is a cat. This cat may be either alive or dead, or perhaps both. At what point does this cat cease to be alive? Can it be alive and dead at the same time, if we don't know what the state is?"

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"You'd know for sure what the answer was, but would seeing it happen change what happens to the cat?" She translated.

"...No?"

Was this a trick question?

No, no trick question. Just a paradox. "You wouldn't step in to save the cat?"

"But if it's dead already, what difference would it make?"

"It wouldn't, but until you know for sure, couldn't it also be alive?"

"...No, because it would be dead."

"But you wouldn't know that. So there's a theoretical possibility that it could be alive."

"But that's not truth," Chad said. "That's just...ignorance."

"As much as it pains me to admit it, this isn't about truth--it's about possibility."

"...But the possibility of something doesn't make it tr--"

But keeping in mind that she said it wasn't about truth, Chad stopped before he said it, and just rubbed the back of his head in futility again.

"No, you're right." She agreed, not blaming him. "The math formulas work, if you're looking for a real, true answer about things."

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Physics, Monday, Class #14, Period 4

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