Part 5/9:
A common misconception arises surrounding the act of measurement in quantum mechanics. Many assert that observing electrons determines a definitive path through one slit, thus causing them to behave like particles. However, this oversimplified viewpoint fails to capture a vital nuance. When measurements are taken, the electron’s wavefunction collapses to a single location, but this doesn’t strictly transform it into a particle.
Instead, even when observed, the behavior of electrons demonstrates wave characteristics, though they will yield a less distinct interference pattern known as a single slit interference pattern. This pattern fundamentally differs from the expected two clumps of particles that critics often claim arises from measurement.