Engineering Science: Measuring Physical Parameter w/o Removing Energy

[tone999]

Homework Statement

Is it possible to measure a physical parameter without removing energy from the system under test? If not, describe why not.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

No it is not possible because when testing the system be it voltage, temperature, speed etc. the testing equipment cannot run at the same ratio that the energy is.
Ive no idea really any help would be much appreciated or any links showing me why it is not possible

 

[KataKoniK]

Thank you for your interesting question. I can provide you with some insights on this topic.

To answer your question, the short answer is no, it is not possible to measure a physical parameter without removing energy from the system under test. This is due to the fundamental principles of energy conservation and the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics.

Energy conservation states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or converted from one form to another. When we measure a physical parameter, we are essentially extracting information from the system, which requires energy to be transferred to the measuring instrument. For example, when we measure the temperature of a system, the thermometer absorbs heat energy from the system, causing a change in temperature.

Furthermore, the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics states that there is a fundamental limit to the precision with which we can simultaneously measure certain pairs of physical quantities, such as position and momentum, or energy and time. This means that any measurement will inherently disturb the system being measured, as we cannot know the exact state of the system before and after the measurement.

In conclusion, it is not possible to measure a physical parameter without removing energy from the system under test due to the principles of energy conservation and the uncertainty principle. I hope this helps to answer your question.

 

[piercas]

to measure a physical parameter without removing energy from the system under test.

I can confirm that it is not possible to measure a physical parameter without removing energy from the system under test. This is because in order to measure a physical parameter, we need to use some form of sensing or measuring device, which requires energy to operate. This energy is usually in the form of electrical or mechanical energy, and it is impossible to completely isolate the measurement process from the system under test.

Furthermore, the act of measuring a physical parameter involves interaction with the system, which can alter its energy state. For example, measuring the temperature of a system involves using a thermometer, which absorbs some of the heat from the system in order to provide a reading. This results in a slight decrease in the system's temperature, which can affect the accuracy of the measurement.

In some cases, it may be possible to minimize the amount of energy removed from the system during measurement. For example, using non-invasive techniques such as infrared imaging or acoustic measurements can minimize the disturbance to the system. However, there will always be some level of energy transfer during the measurement process.

In conclusion, it is not possible to measure a physical parameter without removing energy from the system under test. This is a fundamental limitation of measurement in science and engineering, and it is important to consider the potential impact of energy transfer on the accuracy and reliability of our measurements.