We often use Schrödinger’s thought experiment to explain the concept of superposition. The experiment states that a hypothetical cat is locked in a box with some radioactive substance controlling a vial of poison. When the substance decays, it triggers a Geiger counter that causes the poison to be released, thereby killing the cat. 

We often use Schrödinger’sthought experiment to explain the concept of superposition. 

The experiment states that a hypothetical cat is locked in a box with some radioactive substance controlling a vial of poison. When the substance decays, it triggers a Geiger counter that causes the poison to be released, thereby killing the cat. ..

Image: Shutterstock / Built In

UPDATED BY

Brennan Whitfield | Jun 17, 2025

Summary: Schrödinger’s Cat is a thought experiment that illustrates quantum superposition, where a cat in a sealed box is considered both alive and dead until observed. It highlights the paradox of quantum uncertainty and the role of the observer in physics.

Schrödinger’s Cat is a thought experiment devised by the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger, which he designed to illustrate a paradox of quantum superposition wherein a hypothetical cat may be considered both alive and dead simultaneously because its fate is linked to a random event that may (or may not) occur.

What Is Schrödinger’s Cat in Simple Terms?

Schrödinger’s Cat, as a thought experiment, states that if you seal a cat in a box with something that can eventually kill it, you won’t know if the cat is alive or dead until you open the box. So, until you open the box and observe the cat, the cat is simultaneously dead and alive.

See full list on builtin.com