Comment on Irrational
sir_pronoun@lemmy.world 5 months ago
But irrational numbers aren’t the same as imaginary numbers. Also, there are irrational imaginary numbers. And quantum physics loves using imaginary numbers. So that sentence in the image is nonsense, right?
The definition of irrational numbers is that they are the real numbers that are not rationel. So we need to look at the definition of real numbers. A real number is a number that can be used to measure a continuous dimensional quantity.
Quantum physics says that reality is not continuous. Particles make “discrete” jumps instead of moving continuously. So irrational numbers can’t exist.
That is not a definition of the real numbers, quantum physics says no such thing, and even if it did the conclusion is wrong
Let’s have a look.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrational_number
** In mathematics, the irrational numbers (in- + rational) are all the real numbers that are not rational numbers.** That is, irrational numbers cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers. When the ratio of lengths of two line segments is an irrational number, the line segments are also described as being incommensurable, meaning that they share no “measure” in common, that is, there is no length (“the measure”), no matter how short, that could be used to express the lengths of both of the two given segments as integer multiples of itself.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics
Quantum systems have bound states that are quantized to discrete values of energy, momentum, angular momentum, and other quantities, **in contrast to classical systems where these quantities can be measured continuously. **
The conclusion is wrong, i agree. That’s the joke of the meme.
I’m fully aware of the definitions. I didn’t say the definition of irrationals was wrong. I said the definition of the reals is wrong. The statement about quantum mechanics is so vague as to be meaningless.
Quantum mechanics still have endless ratios which aren’t discrete. Especially ratios between stuff like wavelengths and more
They don’t make “discrete jumps” as in teleportation. They exist stable in discrete energy levels, but that doesn’t imply things don’t move continuously.
ORLY?
Please take your evening off to explain to the common man how electrons are distributed without restoring to quantisation.
That’s not what I said?
They’re “stable” energy states. That’s all.
pantyhosewimp@lemmynsfw.com 5 months ago
“Imaginary” was merely poor word choice from long ago.