Title: Observing a Phenomenon Affects Its Outcome - Fact or Myth?
Headings: Observing a Phenomenon Affects Its Outcome
Observing a Phenomenon Affects Its Outcome Fact
Can Observing Something Change Its Outcome?
Quick Summary of the Observer Effect
The Observer Effect
Dual Wave-Particles and the Double-Slit Experiment
Double-Slit Experiment:
Schrödinger’s Cat
Wavefunction Collapse and Quantum Superposition
The Uncertainty Principle
What We Know Today
Conclusion
References
Citations

Content: So for instance, using technology to measure the outcome of an experiment is “observation”. This is different from mathematics where measurement is based strictly on numbers. [ 1]
TIP : Massless energy particles, like the photon, are fields with excited states called particles (quantum field theory). It’s assumed that our measuring devices affect the field and result in the “observer effect”. Metaphysical theories pertaining to the observer effect are fun to explore, but it is highly doubtful that there is any “mind magic” involved in the observer effect. TIP: There are also a few a non-physics observer effects too, this is a comment on how people’s behavior changes when it is being watched. This is generally true and is backed up by data (but is a theory). [ 6]
Quick Summary of the Observer Effect
Keeping in mind that no-one, including me, understand exactly what is causing the observer effect, below is a list of four key concepts related to understanding what we do know about quantum physics and the observer effect.