4 ms·
It also makes the assumption that the measurement of position must be continuously detailed, which we know in our universe is impossible because of the Plank le
by kromem 3y ago
It also makes the assumption that the measurement of position must be continuously detailed, which we know in our universe is impossible because of the Plank length.
So even if spacetime is continuous and particles do move within it in continuous ways, the combination of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle plus the Plank length means we can never observe such continuity anyways.
- eigenket 3y ago> which we know in our universe is impossible because of the Plank length I think the statement that you are implying here is not known to be correct. We have no idea if it is (theoretically) possible to measure the position of a particle to a precision of less than a Plank length. In some formulations of quantum gravity there are fundamental limits like this, but quantum gravity is difficult at best and sketchy at worst and none of those versions of quantum gravity is without their flaws.
- kromem 3y agoThe problem is there's no way to measure it in actuality. If there's not enough energy in the universe to make the measurement, then there's no making the measurement no matter the theory of what would happen if there were more energy. We could discuss the theory of what happens to a virtual photon going down a split path between Everett or another interpretation, but if we can't ever actually measure the virtual photon, then it's just theorizing around an unanswerable question. Which is part of what leads to "shut up and calculate."