Monthly Archives: June 2013

Q: Are numbers real?

Posted on June 26, 2013 by The Physicist

Physicist: This question usually comes in the form of “are complex numbers real?” or “are negative numbers real?” or something along those lines.  Turns out you can answer all of these questions at once (if you make up a nice … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Math, Philosophical | 11 Comments

Q: If time were reversed would things fall up?

Posted on June 18, 2013 by The Physicist

Physicist: Reversing time seems to reverse how things work.  Instead of growing, plants shrink.  Instead of going forward, airplanes fly backward.  And, “intuitively”, instead of falling down, things fall up.  If you have a video of someone jumping into water, … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics | 21 Comments

Q: Why don’t “cheats” ever work on the uncertainty principle? What’s uncertain in the uncertainty principle?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by The Physicist

Physicist: The Uncertainty Principle is often stated as “the position and momentum of a particle cannot be simultaneously and perfectly measured”.  Mathematically, it’s written as , which means that the product of the uncertainties in the position, x, and momentum, … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Physics, Probability, Quantum Theory | 2 Comments

Q: Do the past and future exist? If they do, is the future determined and what does that mean for quantum randomness?

Posted on June 6, 2013 by The Physicist

Physicist: This is a difficult question to even ask, because the word “exist” carries with it some “time-based assumptions”.  For example, if you ask “does the Colossus of Rhodes exist?” the correct answer should be “it did, but it doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in -- By the Physicist, Philosophical, Physics, Quantum Theory, Relativity | 52 Comments