## ∆P and ∆X

$\Delta p \Delta x\geq \frac{h}{4\pi }$

Jonathan Marcial Dis 1K
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### ∆P and ∆X

I was very confused on when to use Delta P and Delta X. Can someone help explain that?

Solene Poulhazan
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Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:04 am

### Re: ∆P and ∆X

For which formula do we need to use ∆P and ∆X in?

Chem_Mod
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### Re: ∆P and ∆X

You see them in the Heisenberg Uncertainty equation. $\Delta P$ and $\Delta x$ are uncertainties in momentum and uncertainty in the position.

Lily Emerson 1I
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### Re: ∆P and ∆X

I find it easier to think of them more like values with margins of error, so delta P and delta X are ranges of values where the true value is somewhere in the interval.

Harmonie Ahuna-1C
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### Re: ∆P and ∆X

Specifically, deltaP is the uncertainty in momentum and deltaX is uncertainty in position of something. These allow us to estimate how big or small our uncertainty about either one of these is. For example, 3 x 10^(5) has a larger uncertainty than 3 x 10^(-29). We can also use Heisenberg's to find the uncertainty in velocity (deltaV) from deltaP.

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### Re: ∆P and ∆X

Interesting to note that in the Heisenberg principle, because these two values (∆P and ∆X) multiplied together must be less than a constant $\frac{1}{2} * \frac{h}{2\pi }$
if either uncertainty is very small, than the other uncertainty must be very big. This can help on homework and tests when making predictions about what your calculated answer should look like.