Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Is there a way to describe the connection between 'The Uncertainty Principle" and the "Observer Effect" in layman's terms without notation?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
SW-User
I'm no expert but. The uncertainty principle is I think that measuring one thing I.e. velocity changes its momentum so measuring one thing intrinsically changes another.
The observer effect is that by choosing to observe in a particular way changes how something not only behaves, but must have previously behaved it is about quantum stuff... i.e. I observe light from a distance galaxy it chooses to behave as though for light years previously it's been either a wave or a particle but only choosing due to my act of observation.
@Nunos50: Change by observation seems to be at least partially applicable in both situations. Thanks.
SW-User
@puck61: yes but the momentum change is only from point of observation onwards in the observer effect you can change billions of years (in lights case) of behaviour before the point of observation
@Nunos50: That brushes against relativity doesn't it? Would gravitational waves be a good example of that? Like I said, I'm in relative preschool when it comes to this stuff. Just musing ...I'm ex blue collar with a GED.
SW-User
@puck61: I don't understand gravitational waves. We need my son he's a physics PhD!
I think physicists used 'gravitation waves' to determine the age of the universe. As far as I know, they are like a residual ripple from the big bang? Hell! I could be way off on this! I should just shut up!