heisenberg uncertainty principle

further chem

heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

implies that there exists some minimum, and there will always be a degree of uncertainty in measuring the 2 observables

• observables

  • position
  • momentum

• intrinsic property of quantum mechanics, not technological ability

position can be determined by shining a light on the particle

• if photon has short wavelength, thus large momentum - position can be determined accurately
  • however, large, uncertain momentum transferred into particle
• if photon has long wavelength, thus small momentum - particle momentum can be determined accurately
  • however, the scattering will reveal the position of the particle only very vaguely

for big particles, the uncertainty is insignificant, but for smaller particles, such as electrons, this would matter

• there is a limit to the precision of which certain pairs of physical properties, such as position and momentum can be simultaneously known
• i.e. the more that one property is measured, the less accurately the other property can be known