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- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Quantum superposition is the application of the superposition principle to quantum mechanics. The superposition principle is the addition of the amplitudes of waves from interference. In quantum mechanics it is the amplitudes of wavefunctions, or state vectors, that add. It occurs when an object simultaneously "possesses" two or more values for an observable quantity (e.g. the position or energy of a particle).
More specifically, in quantum mechanics, any observable quantity corresponds to an eigenstate of a Hermitian linear operator. The linear combination of two or more eigenstates results in quantum superposition of two or more values of the quantity. If the quantity is measured, the projection postulate states that the state will be randomly collapsed onto one of the values in the superposition (with a probability proportional to the square of the amplitude of that eigenstate in the linear combination).
The question naturally arose as to why "real" (macroscopic, Newtonian) objects and events do not seem to display quantum mechanical features such as superposition. In 1935, Erwin Schrödinger devised a well-known thought experiment, now known as Schrödinger's cat, which highlighted the dissonance between quantum mechanics and Newtonian physics.
In fact, quantum superposition does result in many directly observable effects, such as interference peaks from an electron wave in a double-slit experiment.
If two observables correspond to noncommutative operators, they obey an uncertainty principle and a distinct state of one observable corresponds to a superposition of many states for the other observable.
- Anonymous5 years ago
The universe is ruled with the aid of 2 contraptions of rules that don't agree. Quantum Mechanics works for issues the size of an atom and smaller. we don't adventure the universe at this scale, so QM looks counter-intutive. for this reason it would not seem to make experience. At this scale, each thing is debris of rely or capability. on the QM point the universe is chaotic and probabilistic. we can't understand each thing for particular. we are in a position to basically assign a probability to an remark or experience. some observations are at the same time unique, if all of us understand one ingredient we don't understand the different. (the situation and momentum of a sub-atomic particle as an occasion). information has an capability fee, we can't make an remark without including capability to the ingredient spoke of. for that reason, making an remark variations the ingredient spoke of. the best analogy I genuinely have is that is style of a shoplifter that on the right 2d they start to shoplift they understand they're being watched. That information reasons them to alter their habit. as long as they're watched they don't shoplift. as quickly as you stop observing, they do. you already know they shoplifted, yet you could never see them do it.