is a computer a mechanical machine on a fundamental level?

>>57064691
Yes. Electrons are considered physical objects so their interactions are considered mechanical.

>>57064720
insane in the membrane barrack hussein !

>>57064691
Physicist here. No. The way a computer works in a semi-fundamental level can't be explained by conventional mechanics.

>>57064691

Wouldn't fans and hdds technically make it mechanical?

Now if you had ssds and passive/peltier cooler than no

>>57064745
>than
Comment disregarded.

a tape punch machine basically is a computer.

you put in a card.

it reads the card.

it puts out a response based on the layout of the holes.

you have to program what it says based on a particular hole

that is a computer

>>57064737
aren't pnp junction gaps built off of the idea that there is a potential energy well? that's fairly classical isn't it?

what isn't a mechanical machine on a fundamental level?
Like if you zoom in far enough the entire universe can be explained

>>57064758
>>57064758
on a mechanical level though programming it is just adjusting the structure of the machine isn't it? if a hole is covered then it punches out "this answer was wrong" because you placed the arms that way.

>>57064779
is programming just choreography?

>>57064737
Computer Scientist here, computers are very much mechanical in nature.

>>57064758
>aren't pnp junction gaps built off of the idea that there is a potential energy well? that's fairly classical isn't it?
Transistors or semi-conductors in general can't be explained by classical mechanics. Potential energy is not a concept restricted to classical mechanics, it exists on quantum mechanics, quantum field theory and even string theory too.

>>57064798
If you are talking about Turing machines then yeah, I agree with you. I was referring to modern computers with transistors.

>>57064801
Yeah but all electricity is quantum mechanics, that doesn't say much

File: p4_die.jpg (702KB, 1600x1200px) Image search: [Google]

702KB, 1600x1200px

>>57064801
what quantum mechanical effect is involved with a computer? isn't the maxwell/newton model more than enough?

>>57064725
>SCANDALACIOUS BOMBACIOUS MY MAN

>>57064832
>isn't the maxwell/newton model more than enough?
You can use semi-classical models to explain semi-conductors, that is, maxwell+hamilton equations but the momenta in those equations is associated with the wavefunction of electrons travelling thru the material. That model has some troubles tho (can't explain some phenomena), but I don't remember which ones.

>>57064737
This
for what I know, mechanics is defined as the branch of physics that studies the motion of objects
You could argue that electrons are objects and they move, but there is another field in physics called electromagnetism, and it is much more relevant to computers than mecanics

If you want to, you can say "the mecanics of motion therefore mechanical objects" and there would really be no way to object. So it depends on what you mean by mechanics in that sense

Isn't a computer just any type of device capable of performing computations (mathematical operations)? It's pretty much the opposite of mechanical because it's defined abstractly rather than in a concrete form

>>57064691
A computer is an abstract concept of a machine able to carry out computations. I could train a monkey to be a computer.

>>57065528
Do it faggot