The big questions

[Angus_Chisholm]

What is the sound of one hand claping? If a tree fell, and no one was there to hear it, would it still make a sound? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Instead of working, which I'm supposed to be doing, these are the problems I ponder. If anyone would care to enlighten me I would really appreciate it.

[ANDY-J]

Here's another question.How is it possible for a quantum particle to be two totally seperate and distinct things(i.e. a wave and a particle)at one at the same time.Surely such a thing is impossible,so if anybody with a knowledge of quantum theory could provide me with an explanation I would be grateful.

[Angus_Chisholm]

Hi Andy, I can't remember much from my CSYS physics, but are they truly two seperate things, or just one thing with the properties of two?

I can't remember why, but light is/does the same sort of thing, it travels in waves, has frequency and yet is has no mass.

Your guess is as good as mine.

[ANDY-J]

Angus,
I did once attempt to get my head around the vagaries of quantum mechanics but I got as far as Schroedinger's cat and gave up before my head exploded.If it was beyond the capabilities of even Einstein to understand then I think it would be light years beyond my limited academic abilities.But while we're on the subject of physics here is another interesting paradox.Motion must be an illusion.An arrow in flight must at any given instant in time occupy a determinate space.This being the case surely the arrow must be at rest?

[Angus_Chisholm]

Hmmm, very interesting says I, scratching my chin.

Whether an object seems to be at rest or not depends on how small you can measure. For example, if you had a ruler which was only accurate the nearest cm, an object could be moving, but still appear to be in the same space. If you were looking at this on a graph, it would appear at rest, then jump up a unit, then appear at rest then jump up a unit etc etc. Now, if you get onto the micro level, or even the nano(i'm sure theres a pico in there somewhere)an object would appear to be at rest between intervals, however small. The problem with this is it's using a digital scale.

Another thought I had is that a moving thing would still have momentum, even if it did appear to be at rest, and as an object at rest has no momentum...

I'm sure from this you can see I have too much time on my hands! If you do however wish to discuss this further, or ponder any other mysteries of the universe...

[such-is-life]

Gus,

I would like to give my answers to your questions at the start of this thread.
I think it is possible to hear one hand clapping, as it is possible to 'clap' your palm with your fingers and make a sound.
Regarding the tree falling, i do believe there is a scientific method to reveal the answer. First make a tree fall and record the noise it makes. Then, leave many microphones in a forest for a long time. When you listen to the second set of recordings you should be able to recognise if any of the sounds are the same as the first recording.
The 'chicken and the egg' question is more difficult, although i would say the chicken, as i agree with the theory of evolution (the chicken would have to evolve from a different species and then lay eggs to produce more chickens)

[Celyn]

hmm, I think if a tree falls in the forest, all the other trees point their fingers and laugh.