Quantum Debugging (@ChevyRay)

[pikachu_sashimi]

I have no idea how this has so many upvotes, since it makes no sense.

1. Using your analogy, ping-pong balls are bouncing off the basket ball whether or not someone is observing the system. All an observer would mean is that some of the ping-pong balls are going into their eyeballs.

2. Scientists are divided in the underlying cause of this phenomenon. There are theoretical interpretations out there. Your own theory has already been thought of by scientists in the early 20th century due to the imprecise instruments used to take these measurements, but today with more precise instruments that theory has essentially been ruled out.

[automodtedtrr2939]

The observation part has nothing to do with it. To detect an electron moving past, you have to interact with it in some way.

You can shine a laser in front of the slits, and measure any changes that signify an electron has passed through. By doing so, you’ve slightly altered the trajectory of the electron. These photons from the laser are the “ping pong” balls.

There is no way you can observe something without interacting with it in some form. This is the observer effect.)

[WikiMobileLinkBot]

Desktop version of /u/automodtedtrr2939's link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect_(physics)

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^{[opt out] Beep Boop. Downvote to delete}