Representation

[Madelyn Romberg 1H]

What does the numerical value given by the uncertainty principle actually mean?

[Chloe Thorpe 1J]

It gives a range of possible values that the velocity could take on. So, for example, if you have an initial velocity of 5m/s, and you calculated the change in velocity to be +/-2, the final velocity could be between 3 and 7m/s. It can sort of be compared to the margin of error, if that makes sense.

[Chem_Mod]

The uncertainty principle has two complementary variables for which there is a limit to the precision with which we can measure either. Essentially, there's the uncertainty in momentum and the uncertainty in position of a particle. These variables represent the precision to which either the momentum or position can be measured. The more precision you know one variable (corresponds with a lower value), the less precision you know the other variable (corresponds with a higher value).

[danicatran4]

Can you explain how the uncertainty principle is applied to real life situations? In a session today, we did an example that asked for the minimum indeterminacy of a bowling ball's position and if you coulf blame Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle when you miss the pins and I don't really see how it connects.

[105002507]

The uncertainty principle has two complementary variables for which there is a limit to the precision with which we can measure either. Essentially, there's the uncertainty in momentum and the uncertainty in position of a particle. These variables represent the precision to which either the momentum or position can be measured. The more precision you know one variable (corresponds with a lower value), the less precision you know the other variable (corresponds with a higher value).