Quantum Physics 123: Monday 10 October

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor doesn't look rumpled today, nor unprofessional, but if you look at his face long enough, you can see every single year of his life in his eyes.]

Right, I trust you had a pleasant Homecoming weekend. But it's time to get back to work. We had another great discussion last Wednesday, other than the descent into toasters. I'll hope for something half as good today, when you're exhausted.

[He passes back homework. Everyone got at least a C.]

Let's talk about divergence today, and the concept of alternate universes. Many people believe that at certain points in history--focal points--the timeline splits, diverges, and continues in two places where there are different outcomes to the focal event.
Of course, this concept is dependent on time existing in a line, when, at least in my experience, time travellers make it into a tangled, vaguely knot-like mass. But alternate lines do seem to exist, despite how much sense it seems to make.

Have you heard about or experienced alternate timelines? What do you think about the way timespace is set up? Let's discuss this in class. Then I want you to write a short synopsis of your personal ideas as compared to others in the room, for Wednesday.

Comments

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

::laugh::

I'm sure you'd get a long fine with yourself. Unless you're talking about some weird physics-go-boom thing happening.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Well, I might get along with myself but I'm more thinking of an interruption of an alternate universe by displacing some sort of thread by showing up. Say, if this universe is meant for only one John Crichton, and not Cam even though he looks like me, what would happen if another Crichton showed up and tipped that scale, interrupted that thread?"

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

So, you're saying a universe couldn't handle two of you?

I could handle two of you. Not that I've thought about that. In that way.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John grins cockily. "Maybe. But, what I'm really saying is would a balance of some sort be interrupted if two John Crichton's were in one universe, one from an alternate reality, when the balance of said universe only provided for one John Crichton?"

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Actually, yes, Mr Crichton...

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John nods.

"That's what I thought. The balance would be off therefore causing some kind of disruption in the universe and that universe's timeline."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Basic e=mc2, right? Matter cannot be created or destroyed. So if a you from this universe met a you from this universe, then the universe is suddenly... heavier than before. But if a you from an alt met you, then the alt-you was created in another universe, so the balance is okay.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess if the universe was specifically meant for only one, yeah. The balance would be disrupted, and... well... what exactly does a universal balance do, anyways? Cause I think I need to know that before I speculate on what happens when it breaks.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

It doesn't DO much of anything on its own, Ms Cally. It merely maintains the status quo of not too much weird. When something goes wrong, that's when you know about it.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

So, we should just be really careful where we travel, then? Cause otherwise we might end up meeting ourselves and the whole world crumbles to dust?

...that'd suck.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Well, a you from an alternate universe wouldn't necessarily cause problems. A you from the same universe, but older or younger, would.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Well, you're the one who's actually done this sort of thing, right?

So... has it ever happened to you?