you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 4 points 3 years ago (12 children)

Up to the introduction of quantum mechanics imaginary numbers where only ever a theoretical tool and any calculation in electromagnetism, mechanics or even relativity can be done without them.

Also, any measurement you can make will always result in real numbers because there is no logical interpretation for imaginary measurements (a speed of 2+i m/s doesnt really make sense)

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 12 child comments
  • [+] 8 points 3 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (4 children)
  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    I said that any calculation in electrodynamics CAN be done without imaginary numbers, I never said that it would be the most common or convenient way of doing things.

    If you use a different form of solution to maxwells equations, electrical impedance can totally be expressed as just another real property. Fourier transform also is not necessary to solve maxwells equations or any other physical systems. It just might make it significantly easier and more convenient.

    Obviously imaginary numbers existed and where used way before quantum mechanics was a thing but they werent technically necessary in physics because they never appeared in the equations of fundamental theories (Maxwells equations, general relativity, newtonian mechanics)

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [+] 1 point 3 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)
  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (5 children)

    Imaginary numbers are indeed poorly named. They are not much more imaginary than members of ℝ.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (4 children)

    It's all fine... except for the part where reality has a √-1 component.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (3 children)

    Well, in AC circuits, having √3̅+√-̅1̅ A of current makes as much sense as having 2 amps with a 30° phase shift. It's just easier notation for calculations - Cartesian coordinates for what would otherwise be polar.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (2 children)

    That's BS notation. If you want Cartesian, just use 3i+1j, no need for some impossible √-1 that you then redefine some operations for, just so it becomes orthogonal to R.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments