| Topic: |
Science > Physics |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
04 Sep 2006 06:04:53 AM |
| Object: |
Zeno's paradoxes and quantum motion |
It is standardly assumed that space and time intervals consist of
extensionless points. The moving object is in one position at each
instant during the course of motion. But it seems that such a natural
assumption does not permit the existence of motion. The famous arrow
paradox of Zeno provides an interesting argument. It argues that at any
instant a flying arrow cannot move for that would require the instant
to have parts, and an instant is by definition a minimal and
indivisible element of time. Since at each instant of its flight the
arrow is at rest, and time is composed of such instants, the arrow
never moves. The standard solution of the paradox rests on what is
called the 'at-at' theory of motion. According to the theory, motion is
merely a feature of being in different locations at different times,
and that is that. As Russell (1903) wrote, "Motion consists merely in
the occupation of different places at different times". So it is true
that there is no motion during any instant. Motion has nothing at all
to do with what happens during instants; it has instead to do with what
happens between instants. If the object has the same location in the
instants immediately neighboring, then we say it is at rest; otherwise
it is in motion.
However, the 'at-at' theory does not tell us how the different points
in space and time intrinsically correlate. In other words, this theory
cannot explain dynamism as it never operates the synthesis which could
intrinsically correlate different points in space and time. We all know
that the transition of different positions is in fact accomplished, but
how the transition from one position to another position has been
accomplished remains a mystery in the existing theory. In the
following, we will try to complete the 'at-at' theory of motion and
find how the objects move.
For the detailed discussions, please visit the quantum motion website
http://www.quantummotion.org/
.
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