Superposition: Particles in Multiple States at Once

Superposition is the quantum rule that particles can exist in multiple states at the same time.
An electron can be in several places at once until observed.
This principle gives rise to Schrödinger’s famous thought experiment with a “both alive and dead” cat.
Superposition makes quantum systems probabilistic rather than definite.
When measured, the particle “collapses” into a single outcome.
Quantum computers use superposition to process many possibilities simultaneously.
Light waves and electrons have both shown superposition in double-slit experiments.
Superposition challenges our classical intuition, where objects can’t be in two states at once.
It is a key ingredient in quantum technologies like sensors and secure communication.
Superposition reveals that at the smallest scales, reality exists as probabilities, not certainties.