Advanced search

Answers


Would there need to be infinite precision in nature for nature to be deterministic?

An electron is both a particle and a wave, and we cannot define exactly where a subatomic particle/wave is because it is spread out across time and space - we can only define it through probabilities. Wouldn't there need to be infinite precision and no uncertainty in nature for nature to be deterministic? Considering that infinite precision and certainty don't appear to exist - because experiments show randomness and uncertainty exists at the heart of nature, then would it be correct to assume that both atomic and subatomic particles/waves do not always interact with one another with infinite precision and if so then is it correct to conclude that nature cannot be deterministic - i.e. by having exact knowledge of the starting conditions of the universe and infinite computing power it would still be impossible to calculate exactly how the universe would evolve?

media
sssss
 (1 vote) average rating:5

submit an answer
  • Member status
  • none

Last edited on: 2010-02-02 15:31:27

Categories: Our universe.

Tags: physics, Universe, relativity, time, Space, quantum, determinism, reality, subatomic, freewill.

 

Report abuse


1 answer(s)


Reply

Jon-Richfield says:

Basically yes.  It goes further than that though. The nature of information is that it is material, that is to say: real. It is real in much the same sense as say, potential energy. The implication is that we cannot have infinite precision about anything, not only we, but nothing else in nature as well. It it could, the sheer gravitational effect of even a sufficiently large (never mind infinite!) amount of information about the state of a billiard ball  would cause gravitational collapse!

So you can see that there are many ways in which quantum uncertainlty and indeterminism ties in with the nature of our world. On the other hand the impossibility of determinism  does not forbid causality of course.

So, all right, we would need infinite precision, if we could have it, which as I said we can't, to get determinism. But though necessary, I am not sure that infinite information would be sufficient. Or possibly it would, but only if we had more than one class of infinite information. For instance, there are many classes of chaotic system where anything more than zero error would lead to exponentially growing deviation from prediction. Consider the behaviour of spherical (or any other convex objects) bouncing off each other for example. Even if we did aim them perfectly, the beta decay of a tritium atom in the Andromeda galaxy would suffice to disrupt the system some 2300000 years later.

There is always some future disaster to worry about.

Am I right? I don't know; you tell me! I don't have infinite information on the matter...

Oh dear!

Jon

 

 

sssss
 (1 vote) average rating:4

Tags: physics, Universe, relativity, time, Space, quantum, determinism, reality, subatomic, freewill.

top

posted on 2010-02-02 20:51:21 | Report abuse


The last word is ...

the place where you ask questions about everyday science

Answer questions, vote for best answers, send your videos and audio questions, save favourite questions and answers, share with friends...

register now


ADVERTISMENT