Title: How Does Observing Particles Influence Their Behavior?
Headings: How Does Observing Particles Influence Their Behavior?
How Does Observing Particles Influence Their Behavior?
[highlight color=”blue”]Question: In the double slit experiment what is it about observation that changes the way the molecules behave? Is it the simple act of observation or a disruption from the observation equipment? [/highlight]
What About the Experiment Itself?
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Where Things Get Tricky:
WATCH: Dr Quantum – Double Slit Experiment
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Content: 28. 14 by Futurism
[highlight color=”blue”]Question: In the double slit experiment what is it about observation that changes the way the molecules behave? Is it the simple act of observation or a disruption from the observation equipment? [ /highlight]
The double slit experiment, visualized ( Source)
That experiment is one example of the observer effect. Anytime measuring (or observing) something causes a change in the original state, this is called the observer effect. Though we do have this problem in the double slit experiment, quantum mechanics is not the only place it shows up. Outside of the context of the double slit experiment, both the equipment and the observation could change the original state to be measured. An easy example of equipment interfering is a thermometer. The mere presence of a thermometer will either raise or lower the heat of whatever you are trying to measure.