The quantum mechanical nature of atomic objects can be difficult to explain to an audience of non-experts. I was wondering whether the following analogy might be suitable: most people are familiar with the game that already very small children play, namely to stack wooden blocks on top of one another, building a higher and higher tower ... until it topples and comes crashing down. :-) My idea was to state that it is fairly easy to stack two blocks on top of another; even three or four, and so on. But as the number of blocks becomes larger, the tower becomes more and more unstable, and will crash down at the slightest disturbance. - The analogy to quantum mechanics would be that one of the essential features is that of superposition: atomic systems or even small molecular systems can be easily put into a state of superposition and stay there. However, for objects built of many atoms (hundreds, thousands, millions, ... 10 to the power of 23!), this becomes quickly impossible. The slightest disturbance from the environment will cause the superposition to be destroyed and the system "crashes down" (collapses) into a single state.
What do you think about this analogy? Is it a good one, or is it lacking in certain ways? Would you modify it? I am curious to hear your thoughts!
/ralph
Ralph H. Scheicher
The analogy which you have explained is the only and best way to explain quantum mechanics rules to non-experts.
Definitely for non-experts Quantum mechanics is not familiar , so we should compare the rules of quantum mechanics like Entanglement , Tunneling , Superposition etc.. to real life.
So for example if you have to explain Quantum tunneling to Normal person. then you can take a real life example such has a person is throwing ball to a wall and i bounces back but in quantum world it penetrates instead of bounce back..
This is the best analogy and easiest way to explain This theory to a no-expert or audience..
They like the things in which they are familiar i.e., Real life things.
Ritik bhardwaj
Symmetry in natural sites forms an order characteristic. While, randomness forms disorder (asymmetry or pollution). Order- Disorder Transformations develop a Quantization process(Action or event), which maybe observed through wave functional form happenings by considering a Quantum Model in Cosmic Space and through the concept of Quantum and Quantization.
I think you may want to use reasoning along the lines of slide 9-13 (classical vs quantum LC oscillator) for non-experts. I use these in my talks for the unfamiliar audience.
Dear Ralph. Good question, for we surely can do better in this area. To help my answer, maybe you could explain your "non-expert" to me? What is their expertise? What level of education, e.g., math, physics, philosophy. What are their key interests? And what is their level of interest in QM? Also, their jobs; i.e., something we may be able to relate to?
Dear Gordon Watson, thanks for your response. When I wrote the question, I had in mind an audience who might only have learned math and physics in high school, and have since then not had much additional education in the subject. Certainly, a crowd of people who are interested in science (popular science), but lack the mathematical background and training in physics to get to a deeper level. More specifically, I had in mind folks who already retired; but could also be an audience of almost any age. Looking forward to any answers or feedback from you.
I use in my lectures hydrodynamic quantum analogs based on walking silicone oil droplets:
Article The new wave of pilot-wave theory
There are great videos on YouTube, and most of quantum phenomena are covered by theses systems, as for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmC0ygr08tE
Recently, even Bell's theorem is covered in numerical models:
Preprint Bell test in a classical pilot-wave system
although with non-dynamic settings yet. Therefore, these systems can explain most of the quantum phenomenology, if not all. Interestingly, the wave-particle duality has been derived from classical electrodynamics recently, inspired by these models:
Article On an electrodynamic origin of quantum fluctuations
Preprint The electrodynamic origin of the wave-particle duality
with unexpected consequences concerning the electrodynamic origin of mass, of classical mechanics and also of quantum phenomena. Sincerely yours,
Álvaro
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