The Secrets of Quantum Physics BBC4

[ardcarp]

The BBC is often accused of dumbing down. Well, not here. In the first of these two programmes, Jim Al Khalili managed to introduce us (well me at any rate) to this enigmatic world in a brilliantly lucid way. Yes he used some analogies and special effects, but so difficult is the subject for the human brain to comprehend, a few stage tricks are welcome.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tr9x9

[Bryn]

Very much concur. I watched it but forgot to hit the record button. Good to see it the first part gets repeated on Friday 00:00. I will set the timer straight away.

[Richard Tarleton]

The BBC is often accused of dumbing down. Well, not here. In the first of these two programmes, Jim Al Khalili managed to introduce us (well me at any rate) to this enigmatic world in a brilliantly lucid way. Yes he used some analogies and special effects, but so difficult is the subject for the human brain to comprehend, a few stage tricks are welcome.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04tr9x9

Yes I watched this, some good stuff but I kept wanting to interrupt with questions. Was he saying if one spinning coin was heads the other would be tails? I tried it, it didn't work! And the card analogy - it just depended which order the cards were in the pack! And I was so busy trying to work that out that I missed why the totals needed to less than 2 to prove Einstein was right and Bohr wrong- or was it the other way round - and why 2? Is there a Dummies Guide to Quantum Mechanics? Yes! Must get it.

PS or perhaps not. Reviews say it's not for dummies.

[teamsaint]

interesting programme for sure.

When I read or watch material om this subject, I am always strangely reassured.

I hope that the second programme looks at ideas around consciousness, which are surely a fundamental part of the picture?

One of the things I wish I could do is read something like " A Brief History of Time" and understand the maths .

[aeolium]

Yes I watched this, some good stuff but I kept wanting to interrupt with questions. Was he saying if one spinning coin was heads the other would be tails? I tried it, it didn't work! And the card analogy - it just depended which order the cards were in the pack! And I was so busy trying to work that out that I missed why the totals needed to less than 2 to prove Einstein was right and Bohr wrong- or was it the other way round - and why 2? Is there a Dummies Guide to Quantum Mechanics? Yes! Must get it.

Yes, RT, I struggled with those analogies too! And the four totals that JaK said came to >2 included one that was a negative figure I thought, so should have resulted in a total <2, i.e. Einstein and not Bohr was right!

Never mind quantum mechanics - even Tom Stoppard's plays can be too hard for me sometimes...

Still, top marks to JaK for his efforts, and how good and unusual it is to watch a programme that can leave you (me) baffled.

[ardcarp]

Was he saying if one spinning coin was heads the other would be tails? I tried it, it didn't work! And the card analogy - it just depended which order the cards were in the pack!

Coins: No, he was saying that, in the Quantum world, it's as if when one stopped at heads the other was bound to be tails. He went on to say that this would be the case if the two 'particles' were created by the same event. Putting a pair of socks into two separate boxes would be a better analogy...take a L sock out of one drawer, the other is bound to be a R sock.

Cards: Again, in the real world this wouldn't happen, but if in the strange Quantum world, an event was always pre-arranging the pack of cards, it would.

I wonder if he will go on to 'explain' the Quantum mystery that it is impossible to state the position of certain particles at any one time. I dimly remember a Hadron experiment where at an instant in time, one such particle was simultaneously detected there and somewhere in Spain.

All very difficult to grasp.

[vinteuil]

Putting a pair of socks into two separate boxes would be a better analogy...take a L sock out of one drawer, the other is bound to be a R sock.

.

... do you really have distinctive left and right socks?

[Don Petter]

... do you really have distinctive left and right socks?

You seem to have forgotten the anatomy of the greater ardcarp

http://www.thebestbikeblogever.com/3.bp.blogspot.com/-DN7Jm50UUd4/T9dUMwOHoCI/AAAAAAAADtU/KRbHduRhfl0/s1600/Injinji%2BToe%2BSocks%2BTake%2BSome%2BWork.jpg

[vinteuil]

You seem to have forgotten the anatomy of the greater ardcarp

http://www.thebestbikeblogever.com/3...ome%2BWork.jpg

... re - spect !!!

[french frank]

in the real world this wouldn't happen, but if in the strange Quantum world, an event was always pre-arranging the pack of cards, it would

Is this something one of our own members would be able to explain - namely Schrödinger's Cat?

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Is this something one of our own members would be able to explain - namely Schrödinger's Cat?

I didn't know cats were allowed to be members.

Sorry, I'll get me coat.

[french frank]

I didn't know cats were allowed to be members.

Sorry, I'll get me coat.

We made an exception for Mr Schrödinger's feline, on the assumption that it was alive. Had it been dead it would have been refused membership.

And, to be honest, I never quite grasp that concept either. This is one TV programme I intend to watch.

[Richard Tarleton]

Coins: No, he was saying that, in the Quantum world, it's as if when one stopped at heads the other was bound to be tails. He went on to say that this would be the case if the two 'particles' were created by the same event. Putting a pair of socks into two separate boxes would be a better analogy...take a L sock out of one drawer, the other is bound to be a R sock.

Cards: Again, in the real world this wouldn't happen, but if in the strange Quantum world, an event was always pre-arranging the pack of cards, it would.

I wonder if he will go on to 'explain' the Quantum mystery that it is impossible to state the position of certain particles at any one time. I dimly remember a Hadron experiment where at an instant in time, one such particle was simultaneously detected there and somewhere in Spain.

All very difficult to grasp.

Thanks for this! Yes he did do something with left and right gloves in boxes.....In desperation I've just looked it up in Bill Bryson's Short History of Nearly Everything - he's actually quite helpful on the subject.

[french frank]

Anyway, I do understand this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...explained.html I just don't know what the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics is.

[ardcarp]

Sorry about the socks. Jim AlK used gloves of course. Must take more care when dressing.