Monday 18 March 2013

My Life and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

Mr. Werner Heisenberg everybody!
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is a law used mainly in chemistry and physics that was invented by some old guy with a really fun name to say (Werner Heisenberg!) who also just happens to share a birthday with me (no big deal). It is essentially the basis of quantum mechanics - which is quite possibly the most annoying and pretentious subject to learn. It basically consists of being taught rule A, then five minutes later being told that rule A is actually wrong and that you should really use rule B, but only sometimes. Like, what??? Seriously, if you plan on maintaining your sanity, do not take quantum mechanics!

Ok, if you guys are still with me, I'll get to the point now.

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that at any given time, you can only know an electron's position or it's speed, but not both. Talk about confusing.

Right about now, you may be asking yourself, "What's with the chemistry lesson, Dare? I thought you hated science?" I'm getting there, I promise.

In the wee hours of this morning (because obviously that's when I have all my brilliant ideas - when I'm supposed to be sleeping), I woke up suddenly with a thought. An analogy, really. And this was it: my life is the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Do you see this diagram of an atom? The teal and orange balls squished together in middle represent the nucleus, i.e. me. The balls that are floating around on the blue, circular orbits are electrons. They are constantly moving around the nucleus and they represent everything in my life that I have to deal with. For example, family, friends, school, finances, food, exercise, life goals, summer employment, etc. 

All these things are zooming around me so fast and I can't catch up. I can only focus my attention on one thing at a time, and even then, I can only control half of it. Let's look at school for an example. Currently, I'm in science and I constantly have work to do and classes and labs to attend. Just focussing on that is hard enough. But now I have decided that I am switching out of science and there are several information sessions, meetings, and deadlines that I have to pay attention to in order to properly switch programs. I don't know which to focus on at one time: my current school work, or my future school plans? (I.e. Where school is right now vs. how fast it's moving.)

I feel like my brain is going to explode!

Well anyways, just needed to get that off my chest! I hope you enjoyed that minor chemistry lesson. 

TTFN! :)
-Dare

P.S. I blogged this from a Starbucks! (Thought you'd like to know...)

3 comments:

  1. My friend's dad studies quantum mechanics for fun *emphasis on fun* DX But I can completely relate to your analogy too!!

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    Replies
    1. Haha :P I never thought I would see the words "fun" and "quantum mechanics" in the same sentence... ever.

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  2. Hi! I saw your comment on my Happiness post. I´ve been following since I commented on your weird obsessions hehe :D
    You have a very nice blog
    big kiss!
    Dany

    http://bluebellsandowls.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete