There's something called the uncertainty principle, right, in quantum mechanics. Position and momentum cannot simultaneously be exactly defined. The fact that something is being monitored by the environment in order to allow a quantum mechanical system to act classically implies that you have to pick one position and momentum. So of these possible things to measure, you pick half of them. And that is what those fact though, we call position. We call location in space. You're only allowed to monitor one thing. And that's what wecall position. I think if you want the classical limit, there's going to be a preferred variable and we're going to call that the position.
Welcome to the April 2023 Ask Me Anything episode of Mindscape! These monthly excursions are funded by Patreon supporters (who are also the ones asking the questions). We take questions asked by Patreons, whittle them down to a more manageable number — based primarily on whether I have anything interesting to say about them, not whether the questions themselves are good — and sometimes group them together if they are about a similar topic. Enjoy!
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