What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum Physics

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What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum Physics I like cheese Chad Orzel http://dogphysics.com/ 2 xp

description

A public lecture on quantum physics and why it is important enough that even dogs should know about it. Based on my book, ow to Teach Physics to Your Dog. Given at the University of Alabama on 9/30/10.

Transcript of What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum Physics

Page 1: What Every Dog Should Know About Quantum Physics

What Every Dog Should Know

About Quantum Physics

I like cheese

Chad Orzel

http://dogphysics.com/

2x p

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~20 Nobel Prizes

For quantum pioneers

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Schrödinger’s Dog

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Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles behave

like waves. Does this mean I

have wave nature?

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/31514171@N00/161879717/

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Peak + Peak =

=

=

Peak + Valley =

Bigger Peak

Nothing

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Double Slit

Pattern depends on distance from slits

Get alternating pattern of “bright” and “dark” stripes

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Electron Experiment

Image and video from Hitachi:

http://www.hitachi.com/rd/research/em/doubleslit.html

Send electrons at two slits in a barrier:

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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

File:Fullerene-C60.png

Fig. 7 in the paper, "Quantum interference experiments with large molecules,"

by Nairz, Arndt, and Zeilinger (Am. J. Phys 71, 319 (2003)).

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Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles behave

like waves. Does this mean I

have wave nature?

Can I use my wave

nature to help me catch bunnies

and squirrels?

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http://www.fotopedia.com/en/Solar_System

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Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles can pass

right through obstacles as if

they weren’t there. Can I use

this to get through the fence to

the yard next door?

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Height

Pro

bab

ilit

y

Gro

und

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Temperature Needed for Fusion: 15,000,000,000 K

Temperature of the Sun: 10,000,000 K+

+

+n

+n

+n

+n

+n

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Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says particles can pass

right through obstacles as if

they weren’t there. Can I use

this to get through the fence to

the yard next door?

So, I should just dig

a hole under the fence, then?

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Dear DogPhysics:

I heard that quantum

physics says cats are both alive

and dead at the same time. I’ve

always known they were

undead zombie monsters! Now

my humans will have to believe

me!

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Electron Experiment

Image and video from Hitachi:

http://www.hitachi.com/rd/research/em/doubleslit.html

Send electrons at two slits in a barrier:

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http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jgeist/omg/ZombieCat.jpg

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Dear DogPhysics:

I am a retired quantum

physicist, and I have discovered an

ingenious quantum technique that

is worth one hundred billion dollars

($100,000,000,000). I will happily

give you 50% of this if you will

provide me with access to your

bank accounts…

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