Estimating with uncertainty principle

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, specifically addressing the relationship between position and momentum in quantum mechanics. The participant highlights that the radius must exceed the spread in position, and momentum must surpass the spread in momentum for a well-defined state. The confusion arises from using the uncertainty of momentum as a substitute for actual momentum, particularly in closed orbits where the average momentum is zero, leading to the conclusion that the time-average of momentum squared corresponds to the variance in the expectation value of momentum.

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http://quantummechanics.ucsd.edu/ph130a/130_notes/node98.html

Can someone help me understand what's going on here?

He says "The idea is that the radius must be larger than the spread in position, and the momentum must be larger than the spread in momentum." which I suppose must be true in order to have a well-defined position and momentum? And then he uses the uncertainty of the momentum as a substitute for the actual momentum. This part in particular I don't really understand.

Thanks!
 
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I think it's because the average momentum is 0 (Closed orbit), so the time-average of the momentum squared (Which is what actually enters the equation), is exactly the variance in the expectation value of the momentum.
 

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