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Question

What is Schrodinger’s cat?


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Solution

  1. Schrodinger's cat is related to quantum mechanics.
  2. It is a hypothetical thought experiment to demonstrate how quantum mechanics affect our real-world objects and events.
  3. According to quantum mechanics, quantum events don't happen unless they're measured.
  4. They only exist in theory as superpositions.
  5. All possible superpositions are described by a mathematical wavefunction that collapses to produce what we see in our reality. This interpretation is also known as the Copenhagen interpretation.
  6. To demonstrate this, Schrodinger devised a thought experiment using a closed system containing a cat, a radioactive element with an equal chance of decaying or not decaying, and a poison capable of killing the cat if triggered by the radioactive element.
  7. As illustrated in figure 2(from left to right side), the cat has an equal chance of being alive or dead during the experiment.
  8. To determine the cat's condition, we must first open the box and examine it; otherwise, we will be unable to determine whether the cat is alive or dead.
  9. The goal of Schrodinger's experiment was to establish a set of circumstances in which the cat's fate was probabilistic and so unknown.

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