Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site bonnie.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!emh From: emh@bonnie.UUCP (Edward M. Hummel) Newsgroups: net.physics Subject: Re: Is the universe predictable? Message-ID: <326@bonnie.UUCP> Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 08:59:03 EST Article-I.D.: bonnie.326 Posted: Fri Dec 14 08:59:03 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 02:03:41 EST References: <382@ukma.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Whippany NJ Lines: 25 >I think the question here is: Are there any truly random forces? >Do we all behave according to a mathematical model too difficult >to comprehend or measure? If there are no random forces, the >answer would seem to be yes. I'd like to hear some real theoret- >ical discussion on this if I can persuade some physicist types to >do so. For those who believe there is some truth in quantum field theory, the answer must be that all forces are 'random' (with the possible exception of gravity) if one looks at a small enough scale. Forces are transmitted by particles which are the result of quantizing the "force" field. electromagnetism: photons weak interactions: W+,Z0,W- strong interaction: gluons (I hesitate to list gravity because the jury is still out) The motion of these intermediary particles is not deterministic in the classical sense. Rather they follow quantum mechanical 'equations of motion' with the associated probabilistic interpertation. Ed Hummel