Schrodingers Cat: Difference between revisions

From Science Theatre
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Morganp
VisualWikitext
imported>Morganp
Created page with "<!-- Schrodinger’s Cat (Physics: Multi state theory; Elementary, middle, high school; Stage) This demonstration is largely scripted, and requires a bit of imagination. This dem..."
 
imported>Morganp
No edit summary
 
Line 1: Line 1:
<!--
{| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; margin-left: auto; float:right"
Schrodinger’s Cat (Physics: Multi state theory; Elementary, middle, high school; Stage)
| [[Physics]]:
This demonstration is largely scripted, and requires a bit of imagination. This demonstration works for an elementary and middle school group when done with the rest of the [[Quantum Mechanics Show]]
| Quantum Mechanics, Multi-State Theory
What you need:
|-
- Two folding walls (to use as a box)
| Grade Range:
- Cloth (to cover the box)
| [[Elementary School]], [[Middle School]], [[High School]]
- Cat plush
|-
- A large coin or similar
| Format:
- Several Hats
| [[Stage]]
Safety:
|}
General Safety precautions
 
How to do it:
This demonstration is a part of the Quantum Mechanics Show. This demonstration is not typically performed by itself, since it does require background knowledge in the topic to be understood. In the Quantum Mechanics Show, this demonstration is scripted, so although this write-up does not provide a script, one should be aware of the differences that happen between scripted and non-scripted demonstrations.
1. Set up the box: Set the two folding walls together to make a large open-top box, and place the hats inside of it. Keep the cloth nearby to cover the box. The cat and the coin will be in your hands.
 
2. Go through part 1 of the script: introduction to Schrodinger’s Cat paradox
''In order to perform this demonstration, you need '''two''' presenters.''
3. Ask for a student volunteer, and have them enter into the box. Show the coin to the rest of the audience, stating that heads means they will put the cat on their head, and tails means they put a hat on their head. Have them squat into the box with the coin and cat, then throw the cover over the top.
 
4. While waiting for the result, ask the audience to vote if they will have either the cat on their head, a hat on their head, or both on their head. After voting pull off the cover and have the volunteer stand. What is the result?
== Materials ==
5. Have the volunteer sit back down, and then do part 2 of the script: complications of the paradox.
 
Why it works:
* Schrodinger's Cat Box
Schrodinger’s cat paradox is a classic paradox that illustrates how complicated quantum systems can get. While unobserved, a quantum particle can be occupying several energy states at the same time. This means that a particle, such as an electron, can be occupying several electron shells for an atom simultaneously, and all the while it is not gaining or losing energy. This is called Superposition, and it is a core part of the quantum mechanics. However, the moment you observe the system, the superposition of the particle will collapse. This is because the moment you observe the system, you are then adding energy to the system. This additional energy given causes the particle to lock into a single state, rather than continue to occupy multiple states. This means the superposition has to end if there is a change of energy in the system, since the addition or subtraction of energy will change the range of freedom for the particle.
* MSU Cat Plush
Note: This explanation is written with the presumption that one has read the script. The script for this demonstration provides more basic information that this builds on.
* Hats
-->
* Large Plastic or Foam Coin
* Black Cloth
* "One Hour Later" Sign
 
== Safety Precautions ==
 
Please read the General Safety Precautions section of the [[Demonstration Safety]] page before performing this demonstration.
 
== Demonstration ==
 
# Set up the box onstage, and have Presenter A briefly introduce the idea of the Schrodinger's Cat Paradox (see "Why This Works"). As they talk about placing a cat in a box, Presenter A should pick up and toss the MSU cat plush into the box.
# Ask for a volunteer from the audience, and explain to them and the audience the purpose of the coin: If it lands heads up, the volunteer can put on a hat (presenter B shows the hats and tosses them into the box). If it lands tails up, then they can put the MSU cat plush on their head.
# Have the volunteer enter the box with the coin, and have them crouch down so the cloth can be put across the top. After the cloth is placed across, tell them to flip the coin and follow the directions.
# Presenter A: Let the audience know that you have to wait an hour now for the experiment to happen. A few seconds later, Presenter B should walk across the front of the stage with the "One Hour Later" sign. Presenter A can then acknowledge that "An hour just passed by".
# Poll the audience to see who thinks the volunteer will be wearing a hat, the cat, or both. Uncover the box and have the volunteer exit it to reveal what they are wearing.
 
== Why This Works ==
 
The Schrodinger's Cat Paradox is a classic thought puzzle in Quantum Mechanics. Suppose we put a cat inside of a box which contains a special detector. This detector has a 50% chance of being triggered over the course of an hour. If the detector is triggered, it will open a vial of poison inside the box, instantly killing the cat. If it is not triggered, then the cat will be unharmed. After waiting an hour, before opening the box, is the cat alive or dead? The answer is that the cat would be in both states, alive and dead simultaneously, while the box is still closed.
 
This thought puzzle may sound silly when applied to living things, but on the atomic scale this theory of being in multiple states is well proven. ''Multi-State Theory'' is the tendency for atomic particles to be in multiple energy states simultaneously, without gaining or losing energy. When a particle, such as an electron, is in multiple states, it is said to be in a ''Superposition'' between states. This superposition lasts until the particle is observed or measured, since the act of measuring the state of the particle adds energy to the system. This causes the superposition to collapse, and the particle locks into a single state.
 
When our volunteer is in the covered box, we can pretend that they are in an unobserved state. This means that while they are in there, before we try to observe or measure their state of having a cat or a hat on their head, they would have both the cat and the hat on their head. Our volunteer represents an atomic particle in this respect, since they are unobserved and therefore should be in both states at the same time. However, once we take the cover off and open the lid, we are then observing the system. This collapses the superposition of our volunteer, and so they will end up with either a cat or a hat on their head.
 
== Additional Information ==
 
* To see real examples of particles in a superposition, check out this [http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/phyopt/dslit.html Hyperphysics Double Slit Diffraction Illustration].
* In the scripted version of this demonstration, the background presenters all meow whenever the main presenter says "cat"!
* This demonstration is a part of the [[Quantum Mechanics Show]]

Latest revision as of 18:32, 16 August 2016

Physics: Quantum Mechanics, Multi-State Theory
Grade Range: Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Format: Stage

This demonstration is a part of the Quantum Mechanics Show. This demonstration is not typically performed by itself, since it does require background knowledge in the topic to be understood. In the Quantum Mechanics Show, this demonstration is scripted, so although this write-up does not provide a script, one should be aware of the differences that happen between scripted and non-scripted demonstrations.

In order to perform this demonstration, you need two presenters.

Materials

  • Schrodinger's Cat Box
  • MSU Cat Plush
  • Hats
  • Large Plastic or Foam Coin
  • Black Cloth
  • "One Hour Later" Sign

Safety Precautions

Please read the General Safety Precautions section of the Demonstration Safety page before performing this demonstration.

Demonstration

  1. Set up the box onstage, and have Presenter A briefly introduce the idea of the Schrodinger's Cat Paradox (see "Why This Works"). As they talk about placing a cat in a box, Presenter A should pick up and toss the MSU cat plush into the box.
  2. Ask for a volunteer from the audience, and explain to them and the audience the purpose of the coin: If it lands heads up, the volunteer can put on a hat (presenter B shows the hats and tosses them into the box). If it lands tails up, then they can put the MSU cat plush on their head.
  3. Have the volunteer enter the box with the coin, and have them crouch down so the cloth can be put across the top. After the cloth is placed across, tell them to flip the coin and follow the directions.
  4. Presenter A: Let the audience know that you have to wait an hour now for the experiment to happen. A few seconds later, Presenter B should walk across the front of the stage with the "One Hour Later" sign. Presenter A can then acknowledge that "An hour just passed by".
  5. Poll the audience to see who thinks the volunteer will be wearing a hat, the cat, or both. Uncover the box and have the volunteer exit it to reveal what they are wearing.

Why This Works

The Schrodinger's Cat Paradox is a classic thought puzzle in Quantum Mechanics. Suppose we put a cat inside of a box which contains a special detector. This detector has a 50% chance of being triggered over the course of an hour. If the detector is triggered, it will open a vial of poison inside the box, instantly killing the cat. If it is not triggered, then the cat will be unharmed. After waiting an hour, before opening the box, is the cat alive or dead? The answer is that the cat would be in both states, alive and dead simultaneously, while the box is still closed.

This thought puzzle may sound silly when applied to living things, but on the atomic scale this theory of being in multiple states is well proven. Multi-State Theory is the tendency for atomic particles to be in multiple energy states simultaneously, without gaining or losing energy. When a particle, such as an electron, is in multiple states, it is said to be in a Superposition between states. This superposition lasts until the particle is observed or measured, since the act of measuring the state of the particle adds energy to the system. This causes the superposition to collapse, and the particle locks into a single state.

When our volunteer is in the covered box, we can pretend that they are in an unobserved state. This means that while they are in there, before we try to observe or measure their state of having a cat or a hat on their head, they would have both the cat and the hat on their head. Our volunteer represents an atomic particle in this respect, since they are unobserved and therefore should be in both states at the same time. However, once we take the cover off and open the lid, we are then observing the system. This collapses the superposition of our volunteer, and so they will end up with either a cat or a hat on their head.

Additional Information

Retrieved from "https://sciencetheatre.kaedon.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Schrodingers_Cat&oldid=881"