Why and how does observation change properties of things like in light wave particle duality or quantum states?

Question

Why and how does observation change properties of things like in light wave particle duality or quantum states?

In: Physics

Answer 1

How do we see things? Light hits the object we are looking at, bounces off the object, then comes back to our eyes.

Now what happens if the object is so small that light hitting it moves it?

Think of a pool table. In the dark. The cue ball is in your hand. There’s an 8 ball on the table. You want to find where the 8 ball is. So you throw the cue ball along the table until you hear it connect with the 8 ball. There! You just placed the 8 ball. But the cue ball made the 8 ball move. So where is it now? You knew where it just was, but now you don’t.

The cue ball is light. The 8 ball is some small particle you are trying to “see.”