Go back
You cannot observe an electron

You cannot observe an electron

Debates

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
46d

@shavixmir said
Scientific observation is more than just seeing.
As I stated, your interpretation of observation is too narrow.
My interpretation of observation is perfect. It is an interaction with an electron and a photon, not a real observation. The interaction is causing the observer effect. In this case observer is a misnomer.

This has led to people into falsely thinking consciousness causes the observer effect. These people are taking the word observation too literally and are making fools of themselves. Consciousness has nothing to do with it.

Very Rusty
Treat Everyone Equal

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Joined
04 Oct 06
Moves
643221
Clock
46d
Vote Up
Vote Down

@Great-Big-Stees said
Some folk like to hear themselves. Speaking of which, why, when you hear your recorded voice does it never sound like you thought it did.πŸ€”
I think you may have meant see their written words, as they cannot actually hear what they type, unless of course they say every word they type out loud, which is a strong possibility with some. πŸ™‚

-VR

moonbus
Über-Nerd (emeritus)

Joined
31 May 12
Moves
8705
Clock
46d
1 edit

@Metal-Brain said
My interpretation of observation is perfect. It is an interaction with an electron and a photon, not a real observation. The interaction is causing the observer effect. In this case observer is a misnomer.

This has led to people into falsely thinking consciousness causes the observer effect. These people are taking the word observation too literally and are making fools of themselves. Consciousness has nothing to do with it.
You are taking the word observation in a too restricted sense to mean only sensory observation. Our senses cannot detect infrared or x-rays, nonetheless, we have devised instruments which are sensitive to those ranges of electromagnetic radiation, just as our ears are sensitive only to certain ranges of frequencies, but we have instruments which can detect frequencies beyond our range of hearing. It would be bizarre to say that we have no observational data of infrared or x-rays. The same applies to electrons and photons. The idea that an electron is a tiny billiard ball, with macroscopic properties, such as a determinate size, location, velocity, shape, and surface characteristics, such as smoothness or roughness, is a metaphor or figure of speech; macroscopic properties, such as smoothness or roughness simply do not apply at quantum levels, and as bizarre as it sounds, our macroscopic concept of having a determinate velocity and a determinate location also do not apply at quantum levels. Electrons are not little billiard balls. They are packets of measurable energy.

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
46d
1 edit

@moonbus said
You are taking the word observation in a too restricted sense to mean only sensory observation. Our senses cannot detect infrared or x-rays, nonetheless, we have devised instruments which are sensitive to those ranges of electromagnetic radiation, just as our ears are sensitive only to certain ranges of frequencies, but we have instruments which can detect frequencies beyond ...[text shortened]... y at quantum levels. Electrons are not little billiard balls. They are packets of measurable energy.
This has led people into falsely thinking consciousness causes the observer effect. Isn't that really silly?

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
46d

@shavixmir said
Scientific observation is more than just seeing.
As I stated, your interpretation of observation is too narrow.
No. You need to call it measurement. That is a more accurate term, but that still requires an interaction between a photon hitting an electron.

Observer is a misnomer. It is a measurement.

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
46d

@sonhouse said
@Metal-Brain
Show us a scientific article that says they 'observe' electrons or protons or neutrino's.
The Observer Effect: Seeing Is Changing

https://fs.blog/observer-effect/

Seeing? Not with eyes. Do you see how people take the word "observe" too literally? They think it is seeing when you cannot see an electron.

s
Fast and Curious

slatington, pa, usa

Joined
28 Dec 04
Moves
53321
Clock
46d

@Metal-Brain
Wow, we did not know that. We ALWAYS thought we could directly just see electrons. Who would have known?
Basking in your superiority again?

kmax87
Republicant Retiree

Blade Runner

Joined
09 Oct 04
Moves
107272
Clock
46d

@Metal-Brain said
My interpretation of observation is perfect.
You sound more like Orangeman every day.

k
Flexible

The wrong side of 60

Joined
22 Dec 11
Moves
37317
Clock
46d

@Metal-Brain said
@shavixmir

How do you observe an electron? You cannot see electrons. You hit it with something to know it is there, right? Calling a collision an observation is silly, isn't it?
Like ninety percent of observations you observe it indirectly by its effects on other stuff.
Like observing climate change by the uptick in extreme weather events and wild fires etc or observing the effect of alcohol by walking into a lamppost sideways ( true story )
You are correct in saying you cannot see an electron with the naked eye but I couldn’t read your post with my naked eye either, fortunately I own some reading glasses

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

Joined
31 Jan 04
Moves
89881
Clock
46d

@Metal-Brain said
No. You need to call it measurement. That is a more accurate term, but that still requires an interaction between a photon hitting an electron.

Observer is a misnomer. It is a measurement.
πŸ™„

Let’s see. Your opinion or that of the scientific community?

Which one do you think I’m going to adhere to?

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
46d

@shavixmir said
πŸ™„

Let’s see. Your opinion or that of the scientific community?

Which one do you think I’m going to adhere to?
My opinion is that of the scientific community.

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
46d

@sonhouse said
@Metal-Brain
Wow, we did not know that. We ALWAYS thought we could directly just see electrons. Who would have known?
Basking in your superiority again?
The writer of that blog did not know that.
You asked me for an example and I gave you one.

kmax87
Republicant Retiree

Blade Runner

Joined
09 Oct 04
Moves
107272
Clock
46d

@Metal-Brain said
The Observer Effect: Seeing Is Changing

https://fs.blog/observer-effect/

Seeing? Not with eyes. Do you see how people take the word "observe" too literally? They think it is seeing when you cannot see an electron.
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities.

In popular culture, the Dunning–Kruger effect is often misunderstood as a claim about general overconfidence of people with low intelligence instead of specific overconfidence of people unskilled at a particular task.

MB

Joined
07 Dec 05
Moves
22654
Clock
45d

@kmax87 said
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities.

In popular culture, the Dunning–Kruger effect is often misunderstood as a claim about general overconfidence of people with low intelligence instead of specific overconfidence of people unskilled at a particular task.
How long have you been suffering from it?

diver

Joined
16 Feb 08
Moves
120954
Clock
45d
Vote Up
Vote Down

@shavixmir said
The human eye cannot observe wind.

Yet, for some reason we can observe it, measure it and sometimes even predict it.

You’ll probably find your definition of observe is rather narrow.

Take a fart. Your eyes can’t see it. But you can certainly observe it.

But… but… no buts. There are different meanings “to observe”. And the one you are referring to is scientific observation.
“Take a fart” killed me πŸ˜‚

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.