collapse theory

Collapse theory suggests that in quantum mechanics, particles exist in multiple states simultaneously (superpositions) until they are observed or measured. This act of measurement causes the wave function—an equation describing all possible states—to "collapse" into a single definite state. Think of it like a spinning coin: until you look at it, it’s both heads and tails, but observing it makes it settle on one. Different interpretations of collapse explore whether observation is a physical process or involves consciousness, but the core idea remains that measurement determines the specific outcome from many possibilities.