Wave Theory

[sunspots]

I'm not a physicist, but it seems to me that something is left out of the double slit experiment. When a series of electrons are sent toward one slit while two slits are open they build up an interference pattern similar to what one would expect from a wave passing through both slits.

 

The problem is, when you drop something in the water to create a wave, it comes from overhead, or perpendicular to the surface of the water. I wonder if a corner double slit experiment has been carried out whereby two "walls" meet at 90 degrees and electrons are sent through one of the slits. Does an intereference pattern appear? This would indicate that the wave is spherical. But if no pattern is created with a corner double slit experiment, there can be no real analogy between that event and what is occurring with an electron. Remember, a water wave is created when something is dropped in it from overhead. Therefore wave theory, though providing the most exact answers in all of science, is entirely fictitious.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

I don't think that the physics concept of waves is meant to be exactly the same as the traditional "wave" concept you see in water. All physics says is that particles have certain wave-like properties, not that they behave exactly like a water wave does.

[Kaeroll]

Therefore wave theory, though providing the most exact answers in all of science, is entirely fictitious.

That's a fairly bold statement. As the good Cap'n says, 'wave theory' doesn't say electrons are identical to water waves or sound waves. It simply uses wave behaviour to model certain aspects of electron behaviour - and this method works very well.

 

Whether or not an electron can be said to be a wave or particle or something else is, imo, irrelevant - our notions of bulk matter simply do not apply at the quantum level. Whether wave theory is 'true' or not does not change the fact that it is useful and predictive (as you yourself admit).

 

Kaeroll

[swansont]

Remember, a water wave is created when something is dropped in it from overhead.

 

Wave generation can also be from lateral movement in the water. This is how the waves are made in amusement-park wave pools.

[GDG]

Wave generation can also be from lateral movement in the water. This is how the waves are made in amusement-park wave pools.

 

And let's not forget that waves can be caused by a sudden vertical displacement in bottom of the container (or sea floor)...