What is Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, proposed by physicist Werner Heisenberg in 1927, is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics. It states that there is a limit to how precisely certain pairs of physical properties of a particle, like position and momentum, can be known simultaneously.
In simpler words, the principle states that the more we know one of these characteristics (let’s say position of a particle), the less one knows the other (i.e., momentum), and vice versa. This limitation comes from the wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics, which deals with the wave-like and particle-like characteristics of particles.
Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle Formula
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is mathematically expressed as:
Δx⋅Δp ≥ ℏ/2
where:
- Δx stands for the particle’s position uncertainty.
- Δp is used to signify the momentum uncertainty of a particle.
- ℏ here is the reduced Planck constant given by ℏ = h/2π which approximately equals to 1.054 × 10−34Js.
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle – Definition, Equation, Significance
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is a basic theorem in quantum mechanics. It state that we can not measure position and momentum of a particle both at the same time with the same accuracy. It means that if we try to measure the accurate position of a particle, then at the same time we can’t accurately measure the momentum of the particle. Mathematically, the product of uncertainties in position and momentum is greater than h/4π, where h is Planck’s constant. The principle is named after Werner Heisenberg, who proposed this theory in 1927.
In this article, we will learn in detail about Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, its origin, formula, derivation, and other equations related to it. We will also learn its importance, applications, and other related concepts.
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