What was that one theory called...

[yellowbus]

I remember from a while back, a theory that said any path takes the average of all possible paths. A football flying through the air goes in that parabolic curve because it takes the average of all possible pathways that it can go. Did such a theory exist or do I have a bad memory?

[snoopy]

I remember from a while back, a theory that said any path takes the average of all possible paths. A football flying through the air goes in that parabolic curve because it takes the average of all possible pathways that it can go. Did such a theory exist or do I have a bad memory?

 

It comes from quantum theory more specifically quantum electrodynamics and uses Feynmann diagrams.

 

But the theory was never meant to be applied to footballs or any other large objects.

[Qfwfq]

The name you're trying to think of is "path integral" but it isn't a theory, it's a method of computation based on the notion of functional. It is not specific to electrodynamics, its construction is based on general quantum formalism and doesn't use Feynman diagrams either. Once constructed, it can be used for a given field theory to derive the Feynman diagram method, which can also be derived by other routes.

 

Historically, it was due to a pursuit which Dirac had goofed up, which came to be known as "Dirac's dream" and which Feynman later straightened out. It is usually called the Feynman path integral and attributed mostly to him.

[snoopy]

Yes that would be the long answer cheers was too tired to bother....sorry.