Can Someone Explain The Power Of Magnetism?

[ripcord]

Magnetism can't be explained. Either you got it or you don't.

 

[Torrid]

Insane Clown Posse couldnt figure it out either

I was waiting for this post. Top notch.

 

[PWMDMD]

A common intuition for gravity is to imagine space as an elastic membrane (trampoline surface). Objects resting on the membrane (planets, etc.) depress it like a person standing on a trampoline. Each depression is a "gravity well" that attracts nearby objects that tend to roll down into the depression. Of course this is 2-D so now you have to imagine the membrane as 3-D space and depressions in the membrane stretching into another spatial dimension.

The idea is that mass distorts space, causing gravity. The spatial distortion it causes follows the inverse square law - the distortion diminishes quickly as you get further away.

Strongly suggests gravity is mediated through a force particle called the graviton. It's never been experimentally detected but it should be a massless spin 2 type particle.

 

[TomYoung]

Consciousness does not create events. That is a gross misinterpretation of the observer effect in quantum mechanics. It's not consciousness, but the act of observation which influences the outcome. So long as the measurement apparatus is setup and capable of measuring the event, it will measure that event regardless of the presence of consciousness.

“Gross misinterpretation?” While the need for an observer to be conscious has not been demonstrated, there is enough perplexity, enough mixing of cause and effect, and plenty of mystery to quantum mechanics to allow a more gentle assessment of folks’ understanding. You are talking about an area of physics that is highly counterintuitive.

 

[PWMDMD]

“Gross misinterpretation?” While the need for an observer to be conscious has not been demonstrated, there is enough perplexity, enough mixing of cause and effect, and plenty of mystery to quantum mechanics to allow a more gentle assessment of folks’ understanding. You are talking about an area of physics that is highly counterintuitive.

I'm talking about an area of physics that I have formally learned in school plus this general topic is one of my most read subjects for casual reading.

Take a pill. That's not your original idea anyway so don't take it personally. I'm not talking about YOUR gross misinterpretation of the observer effect. I'm talking about the very common misinterpretation that is out there in the ethos.

 

[TomYoung]

I'm talking about an area of physics that I have formally learned in school plus this general topic is one of my most read subjects for casual reading.

Take a pill. That's not your original idea anyway so don't take it personally. I'm not talking about YOUR gross misinterpretation of the observer effect. I'm talking about the very common misinterpretation that is out there in the ethos.

I was actually jumping in on this, i am more or less with the content of your statement, so was not the person guilty of "gross misinterpretation." I got the idea, perhaps wrongly, that you were laying down the law on observer/ with or without consciousness, where there are some experimental findings, but not necessarily consensus.

I would say that the observer effect itself, is not generally well-taught. It is also one that has been co-opted into many other social science and even natural science areas, diluting its significance, and often in a banal fashion.

 

[Pablo]

Not fully but we know quite a bit especially when you put quantum field theory, quantum chromodynamics, quantum electrodynamics, and quantum mechanics together. Still some holes there but the one we really know nothing about is quantum gravity.

Agree when we talk about particles and force carriers but the esoteric bits such as super position and possible multiverses while they might math out are difficult for the linear human mind to visualize

 

[MolaKule]

...I would say that the observer effect itself, is not generally well-taught. It is also one that has been co-opted into many other social science and even natural science areas, diluting its significance, and often in a banal fashion.

I would respectfully ask that we stick to the physics of magnetism.

We have had prior discussions on consciousness and reality from the so-called "social" sciences crowd, and they went nowhere with unsupported and unproven hypotheses.

 

[ripcord]

I would respectfully ask that we stick to the physics of magnetism.

We have had prior discussions on consciousness and reality from the so-called "social" sciences crowd, and they went nowhere with unsupported and unproven hypotheses.

I love oxymorons!

 

[Pablo]

Physicist Richard Feyman answers Why? in terms of magnetic forces about 3:55 after a preamble about the question, "WHY":

Sly answer but he should have gone over our heads!