Uncertainty Principle

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

Ramsha Dis1B
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

Uncertainty Principle

What does the uncertainty principle actually calculate?

Aidan Ryan 1B
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:17 am

Re: Uncertainty Principle

It gives you measurements on the location and momentum of subatomic particles. You are looking at which of these two measurements is well known because the other will not be due to the fact that the product of these values has to be higher than a constant.
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Athena L 1B
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:18 am

Re: Uncertainty Principle

In the uncertainty principle, the units of x are distance (m). What does this actually mean for the position? Is the length just a range of where it could be?

Michelle Fu 1H
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

Re: Uncertainty Principle

@Athena
I believe (though I may be wrong) it measures the distance between the two outermost possible points where the electron could've ended up on. Your question does bring up other questions though, like is the distance between the two electrons roughly equal all the time? Or when actually plugging in you use the weighted distance difference?

ran2000
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am

Re: Uncertainty Principle

The uncertainty principle works on the idea that both the momentum and the location of an electron cannot be known at once. When one is known, the other can be calculated but not known in that point of time. Thus, when we calculate anything regarding the uncertainty, its a range of possibilities (hence the delta symbol)

Erin Nash - 4G
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

Re: Uncertainty Principle

The Uncertainty Principle states the momentum (delta p) and exact location (delta x) for an electron cannot be known at the same time. Hence the delta symbols indicating a range.