Saturday, April 23, 2011

Quantum Worthiness

Mathematician David Ross has a cogent piece on some people's objections to quantum physics. He recognizes that people desire an explanation for why the equations work:
But there is no theory of the underlying structure of atoms and molecules that explains why Schrodinger’s is the right equation; quantum theory tells us how the quantitative elements of atomic behavior fit together, but it doesn’t explain atomic behavior.
Ross correctly points out that Newton's theories also fail to explain some fundamental phenomena, as Newton acknowledged:
“I have not been able to discover the cause of these properties of gravity from phenomena, and I frame no hypotheses,” wrote Newton in a classic passage Harriman quotes on page 142. “And to us it is enough that gravity really does exist and act according to the laws which we have explained...”
Back in the day, there was theoretic resistance
to Newton's weighty action-at-a-distance.

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