The Best Analogies For Quantum Spin

Quantum spinors are abstract mathematical entities, so people often seek analogies to make more sense of them. Here are the best two analogies I've been able to find.

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Nick Lucid - Host, Writer, Editor, Animator
Em Lucid - Producer
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VIDEO ANNOTATIONS/CARDS

Quantum Fields Explained:

Fermi Gases:
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RELATED YOUTUBE VIDEOS

PBS Space Time on Spinors:

ScienceClic on Spinors:

EigenChris on Spinors:

Jason Hise's Belt Trick Animation:

Gear Analogy with More Detail:
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TIME CODES

00:00 Intro
00:46 Quantum Fields
01:51 Spinors
02:24 Gear Analogy
04:24 Dirac Belt Trick
06:21 It's About Connections
07:06 Fermions vs Bosons
08:36 Outro
08:54 Featured Comment

[LuigiRosa]

There is a real world 1/2 spin analogy: USB type A connector.

You try to plug it, doesn't work
You rotate 180 degrees doesn't work
You rotate again 180 degrees it works

[robloggia]

I think the most beneficial part of this video is continually reminding us that you're using analogy, and that there is no perfect one to one comparison.

[VagueHandWaving]

"Peter, I want those pictures of spinors on my desk before Friday or you're fired!"

[anonymes]

Appreciate a Youtube video saying up front "There's no picture of QM that's not 'wrong'" (I don't mind when science communicators try to come up with ways of depicting it - that's kinda the job - but too many aren't clear enough that that's _not_ quantum mechanics, it's just a teaching aid).

(not having "a picture" is why people with Nobel prizes in quantum mechanics say, with a straight face, things like "I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics" :)

[hankseda]

You two have great interaction 👍 The two spin analogies are better than either one alone. Spin isn't an easy concept to grasp.

[JayLikesLasers]

I like Em. She represents me. In the previous video, you spoke about standard candles, and she had to stop you and ask you to explain standard candles. It seemed you were about to say something like "it's just what it sounds like", before backtracking and actually explaining them. Good job Em.

[louisnemzer]

Imagine a spinning ball. Except it's not spinning. And there's no ball

[gaelonhays]

In my opinion, this is why we need _more_ illustrations, all side-by-side, so that we laymen can get an intuition for all of it at once and combine it in our brains while it's fresh. I couldn't understand gravity as spacetime being a different shape until I saw your squirrel illustration alongside the "straight lines in spacetime" graph. Now, I can actually wrap my brain around what it means to deform spacetime.

[ricardovencio]

These types of videos where you both are having a chat (but structured, not like annoying podcasts) are very very nice, thank you.

[henryginn]

Would have happily watched a version of this that was two or three times the length, I hope you make videos on those other topics you mentioned at the end

[myqueyo]

Dr Lucid, I just read your recent patreon email and I say "GO FOR IT!". I don't know if you're still reading comments on a video from 2 weeks ago... But, go for it man! Most of us fell in love with your channel(s) back when you were doing them the way you like.

[usopenplayer]

I love these visualizations.

It's actually really useful to have both, because it allows the mind to discard all the extra parts of each individual analogy, and helps build an intuition of the pattern itself.

[entropyachieved]

Another great topic to revisit. You can never watch too many vids on the same subject as you will always get a better understanding on the subject

[DanielC]

Man this is amazing. First time I really understand spin. Thanks a lot please keep doing many more videos with your wife. She's amazing too!

[KingNedya]

Yes, another video on quantum spin! I first found your channel via your previous videos on quantum entanglement and spin because I was doing research for a school paper, and your videos were probably the singular most helpful sources I found. Just want to let you know that you have some of the best explanations of any science channel out there.

[homestylegravy]

Great visuals! Giving someone something to latch onto physically does more to help people find an interest in the topic than any amount of accuracy could.

[yves]

I love this series! It’s such a fun way to explain complex things and M is just the perfect partner for this setup. The energy and great humour. Keep on the good work!

[maus]

Probably the best explanation of spin I have come along on Youtube. Thanks and well done!!!

[ankokuraven]

"spin is the way its connected to the universe and it affects how statistics works with the particle."

Thats something I have desperately needed to hear about spin

Thankyou

That has taken it from a property I know existed but really nothing about aside from it existing to one I have some actual appreciation for.

I never want to say I understand something in quantum mechanics or that something in quantum mechanics makes sense

But

To me,
That is now significantly more tangible of a concept as far as what it actually represents.

[PedroNeves_]

Finally another video Nick, I missed you