Oh, hello! Are you familiar with Schrödinger's thought experiment? /
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It deals with the concept of quantum superposition, the law describing the possible states of a quantum mechanical system.
Oh.
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One of those days, is it...?
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The Copenhagen interpretation is that when a system is observed it settles from superpositon, existing in several ways at once, into one of the possible states of existence. /
In this box there is a Geiger counter and a small radioactive substance. /
Ok?
/
When I pull this lever the Geiger counter will detect if the radioactive substance is actively deteriorating within a 15 second time period. /
Uh-huh.
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I have calculated the probability of this happening to exactly 50 % /
Right.
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And if this happens, a small hammer will smash the vial of hydrocyanic acid. /
What?
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...which will effectively kill the life form in the box. /
what
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But since the radioactive substance is in superposition it is not determined whether or not it has decayed until we make an observation. /
And since the life or death of the life form is determined by the radioactive sensor it is not only uncertain whether it is alive or dead, /
but the lifeform in the box actually IS both alive and dead at the same time! /
WHAT life form?
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CLICK I
What the HELL just happened?
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Wow! Did you feel that? I do believe that the superposition constructed two temporary alternative realities! /
One reality where the life form is alive and one where it's dead! /
Ok, so seriously. What's this "life form" you put in the box?
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In this box I have placed a Felis silvestris catus, more specifically one of orange speckled fur. /
Mr Whiskers?
/
Yes. /
You put MY CAT in the death-box?
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Yes? /
Did you just kill my cat?
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Well, yes AND no. /
Until we determine the feline’s state it is literally both alive and dead . /
(So you see, "no and yes" is the perfect answer to that question!) /
Hah hah. /
Wow. It's funny...
/
Because in flipping that switch you also placed yourself in a superpositioned state.
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Because if you killed Mr Whiskers I'm going to murder you.
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Hah-fucking-Hah.
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Meow? I
What the HELL just happened?
\
Wow! Did you feel that? I do believe that the superposition constructed two temporary alternative realities! /
One reality where the life form is dead and one where it's alive! /
Ok, so seriously. What's this "life form" you put in the box?
\
In this box I have placed a Felis silvestris catus, more specifically one of orange speckled fur. /
Mr Whiskers?
/
Yes. /
You put MY CAT in the death-box?
\
Yes? /
Did you just kill my cat?
\
Well, no AND yes. /
Until we determine the feline’s state it is literally both dead and alive. /
(So you see, "no and yes" is the perfect answer to that question!) /
Hah hah. /
Wow. It's funny...
/
Because in flipping that switch you also placed yourself in a superpositioned state.
\
Because if you killed Mr Whiskers I'm going to murder you.
\
