Schrödinger’s Clock®
References
Broadcast material
The concept of quantum mechanics is difficult to grasp when one is more familiar with a Newtonian view of the world. A good introduction to quantum mechanics/physics may be found in the programmes ‘Secrets of Quantum Physics’ introduced by Professor Jim Al-Khalili. These may be found on BBC iPlayer or via Amazon.
Book References
The following books have been useful during the development of Schrödinger’s Clock®.
Quantum mechanics
The concept of quantum mechanics is difficult to grasp when one is more familiar with a Newtonian view of the world. Some of the following books provide a good introduction to this intriguing world:
‘The Quantum Moment’ by Crease and Goldhaber
‘In search of Schrödinger’s cat’ by John Gribbin
‘Seven brief lessons on physics’ by Carlo Rovelli
Time
Time is a curious concept in its own right. Our normal life is carried out under the Earth’s gravitational field, so the relationship between gravity and time is not commonly considered – unless you are Professor Stephen Hawking (‘A brief history of time’). For a look at time as we normally experience it, the following books may be of interest:
‘Timekeepers’ by Simon Garfield
‘How we got to Now’ by Steven Johnson
‘NOW: The Physics Of Time’ by Richard A.Muller
'Longitude' by Dava Sobel is a little gem that emphasises the importance of accuracy and precision in time-keeping instruments.
The novel ‘One of Our Thursdays is Missing’ by Jasper Fforde includes a description of ‘NOW’ as “a noisy brightly coloured cage barely two or three seconds wide”
And on a lighter note:
John Higgs takes a look at the connectedness of ideas in the twentieth century, taking in quantum mechanics in ‘Stranger than we can imagine’.
‘Jingo’ by Terry Pratchett – for the invention of imps to disorganise life
‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl’s book introduces the wonderful concept of the Square Sweets That Look Round. Schrödinger’s Clock® Always Looks Round (to see if it is being observed before deciding what time to display).
‘The Three Musketeers’ by Alexandre Dumas. The title for Chapter 35 ("All Cats are alike Gray in the Dark”) provides the quote for the image used in the Night mode for the app, when a face is detected.
References
Broadcast material
The concept of quantum mechanics is difficult to grasp when one is more familiar with a Newtonian view of the world. A good introduction to quantum mechanics/physics may be found in the programmes ‘Secrets of Quantum Physics’ introduced by Professor Jim Al-Khalili. These may be found on BBC iPlayer or via Amazon.
Book References
The following books have been useful during the development of Schrödinger’s Clock®.
Quantum mechanics
The concept of quantum mechanics is difficult to grasp when one is more familiar with a Newtonian view of the world. Some of the following books provide a good introduction to this intriguing world:
‘The Quantum Moment’ by Crease and Goldhaber
‘In search of Schrödinger’s cat’ by John Gribbin
‘Seven brief lessons on physics’ by Carlo Rovelli
Time
Time is a curious concept in its own right. Our normal life is carried out under the Earth’s gravitational field, so the relationship between gravity and time is not commonly considered – unless you are Professor Stephen Hawking (‘A brief history of time’). For a look at time as we normally experience it, the following books may be of interest:
‘Timekeepers’ by Simon Garfield
‘How we got to Now’ by Steven Johnson
‘NOW: The Physics Of Time’ by Richard A.Muller
'Longitude' by Dava Sobel is a little gem that emphasises the importance of accuracy and precision in time-keeping instruments.
The novel ‘One of Our Thursdays is Missing’ by Jasper Fforde includes a description of ‘NOW’ as “a noisy brightly coloured cage barely two or three seconds wide”
And on a lighter note:
John Higgs takes a look at the connectedness of ideas in the twentieth century, taking in quantum mechanics in ‘Stranger than we can imagine’.
‘Jingo’ by Terry Pratchett – for the invention of imps to disorganise life
‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl’s book introduces the wonderful concept of the Square Sweets That Look Round. Schrödinger’s Clock® Always Looks Round (to see if it is being observed before deciding what time to display).
‘The Three Musketeers’ by Alexandre Dumas. The title for Chapter 35 ("All Cats are alike Gray in the Dark”) provides the quote for the image used in the Night mode for the app, when a face is detected.
