If you’re looking for answers about the mysteries of the Universe, then the Double Slit Experiment will blow your mind. Young’s experiment totally shows how complex the field of quantum physics is. And this experiment raises more questions than answers regarding the nature of matter, light and energy.
1. How matter behaves
In the Double Slit Experiment, individual balls of matter are projected through a single slit, and the pattern that is created on a back wall is a single band. Projecting the balls through two slits accomplishes the same thing but with two bands, which is more or less what people would expect. At this stage, things seem to be pretty ‘normal’.
2. How waves behave
The behavior of waves is different compared to matter. Waves directed through one slit creates a single band, something similar to what was created by the balls of matter. However, waves that are directed at two slits creates a series of alternating light and dark bands on the back screen, which is referred to as an ‘interference pattern’.
3. How a tiny bit of matter like an electron behaves
Projecting electrons through one single slit creates a single band, so the electrons behave as expected, i.e. like matter. However, projecting electrons through two slits creates different results. Surprisingly, they create an interference pattern on the back screen, just like waves.
Physicists who conducted the original experiment hypothesized that the electrons created that pattern by bouncing off one another. Therefore, they tried an experiment that involved projecting the electrons one at a time in order to eliminate that factor. The result was astonishing as an interference pattern was created once again !
4. Adding an observer to the experiment
Physicists tried to observe the electrons traveling through the slits in a closer way. One more surprise… The act of simply observing changed the experiment. The electrons projected through two slits produced a pattern of two bands, just like matter. The electrons behaved differently compared to when they were not being observed. In other words, the very act of observing the electrons changed the experimental conditions…
The simple act of observing a particle of matter can change its behavior, this is a fact ! The apparent contradiction nourishes lots of debate among physicists up to now. Young’s double slit experiment is truly fascinating, and it demonstrates the complexity of quantum physics as well as the very little knowledge we have about the Universe…
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