Section: STEM · PhysicsDifficulty: Advanced
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
USUK
The position and momentum of a particle cannot both be precisely known simultaneously.
Also: uncertainty principle
Definition
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is a fundamental result of quantum mechanics stating that the more precisely the position of a particle is known, the less precisely its momentum can be determined, and vice versa. This is not a limitation of measurement technology but a fundamental property of quantum systems. It arises from the wave-like nature of quantum particles.
Example
“When physicists try to precisely locate an electron inside an atom using short-wavelength light, the photons impart so much momentum to the electron that its velocity becomes highly uncertain.”
Synonyms
- uncertainty principle
- quantum indeterminacy
- position-momentum uncertainty
Antonyms / Opposites
- classical determinism
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Related Terms
- Quantum Mechanics
- Wave-Particle Duality
- Wave Function
- Schrodinger Equation