Quantum Physics: Chapter 2: Classical Physics
Classical Physics Before we look at what quantum mechanics has to say about how we are to understand the natural world, it is useful to have a look at what the classical physics perspective is on this. According to classical physics, by which we mean pre-quantum physics, it is essentially taken for granted that there is an ‘objectively real world’ out there, one whose properties, and whose very existence, is totally indifferent to whether or not we exist. These ideas of classical physics are not tied to any one person – it appears to be the world-view of Galileo, Newton, Laplace, Einstein and many other scientists and thinkers – and in all likelihood reflects an intuitive understanding of reality, at least in the Western world. This view of classical physics can be referred to as ‘objective reality’. Observed path Calculated path Figure 1.1: Comparison of observed and calculated paths of a tennis ball according to classical physics Within this view of reality, we can speak about a part...
