## Indeterminacy Equation

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

Abigail Carter 4G
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:19 am

### Indeterminacy Equation

When exactly do you use this equation? Could someone give me an example?

Julie_Reyes1B
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Indeterminacy Equation

Hi!
To my understanding the principle just tells you the degree of uncertainties of the location and momentum of a subatomic particle. Because location and momentum are complementary in this equation, if the range of uncertainty is small for one then it must be large for the other. A problem would thus ask you the minimum uncertainty of either position or location given the uncertainty of the other: “If the uncertainty for position is ___ mm, what is the minimum uncertainty in momentum?” Example 1B.5 in the book gives a great run-through of a possible problem. Exercises 1B.25-28 may also give you some practice.
Hope this helps!

Anokhi Patel 2B
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Indeterminacy Equation

For the indeterminacy equation, why does the principle use delta p? What constitutes the change in position to use delta instead of regular p in the equation.

305385703
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Indeterminacy Equation

The equation uses delta p to refer to the range that we are uncertain about. The object in question will then have a momentum at any instant within that range of delta p.

805097738
Posts: 180
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:20 am

### Re: Indeterminacy Equation

To locate the electron's location. However, because it is known we can't determine it's exact location, we use the uncertainty of it's position and momentum in order to determine the range of possible locations.

Megan Jung 3A
Posts: 50
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Indeterminacy Equation

The Indeterminacy Equation can be used to calculate the indeterminacy in momentum and the indeterminacy in position. It describes the relationship and values of the uncertainty of both of these values as given by the equation:
(delta p)(delta x)>=h/4pi