- #1
lightoflife
- 4
- 0
I read this article by Hawking which includes this quote "
In classical mechanics one can
predict the results of measuring both the
position and the velocity of a particle.
In quantum mechanics the uncertainty
principle says that only one of these
measurements can be predicted; the ob
server can predict the result of measur
ing either the position or the velocity but
not both. Alternatively he can predict
the result of measuring one combination
of position and velocity."
Can someone elaborate on the last sentence "Alternatively he can predict
the result of measuring one combination of position and velocity"
How is that supposed to work exactly? If you can know only one or the other then how do you measure the combination to predict anything?
In classical mechanics one can
predict the results of measuring both the
position and the velocity of a particle.
In quantum mechanics the uncertainty
principle says that only one of these
measurements can be predicted; the ob
server can predict the result of measur
ing either the position or the velocity but
not both. Alternatively he can predict
the result of measuring one combination
of position and velocity."
Can someone elaborate on the last sentence "Alternatively he can predict
the result of measuring one combination of position and velocity"
How is that supposed to work exactly? If you can know only one or the other then how do you measure the combination to predict anything?