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cosmic.ash
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Could the uncertainity principle be refuted if we do not measure the position of an electron by sending light at it but instead measure its grav influence on another subatomic particle
The HUP should not be confused with observer effect. The HUP deals with the simultaneous measurement of two quantities, not observation. In other words, the HUP doesn't care about how we measure the two quantities just the fact that we have measured them.cosmic.ash said:Could the uncertainity principle be refuted if we do not measure the position of an electron by sending light at it but instead measure its grav influence on another subatomic particle
Not exactly; see this thread (in particular, post n.16):Hootenanny said:The HUP should not be confused with observer effect. The HUP deals with the simultaneous measurement of two quantities, not observation. In other words, the HUP doesn't care about how we measure the two quantities just the fact that we have measured them.
Good catch and fair point lightarrow. I'll rephrase;lightarrow said:Not exactly; see this thread (in particular, post n.16):
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=179089&highlight=uncertainty&page=2
Uncertainty refers to the limitations and imprecision in determining the exact position of an electron without using light. This is due to the inherent wave-like nature of electrons and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the exact position and momentum of a particle.
The position of an electron without light is measured using a technique called electron diffraction, where a beam of electrons is directed towards a sample and the resulting diffraction pattern is used to determine the position of the electrons.
No, the uncertainty in measuring electron position without light cannot be reduced. This is due to the fundamental nature of electrons and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which sets a limit on our ability to precisely measure the position of a particle.
The uncertainty in measuring electron position without light can have a significant impact on scientific research, particularly in fields such as quantum mechanics and nanotechnology. It requires scientists to carefully consider and account for the limitations and imprecision in their measurements and calculations.
Yes, scientists have developed alternative methods for measuring electron position without light, such as scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy. These techniques use the interactions between electrons and a sample to create an image of the electron's position, rather than relying on diffraction patterns.