- #1
shinokk
- 26
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Here's how I understand it:
The light of a shorter wavelength disturbs the momentum of the electron, but shows the electron's position.
Why doesn't the light of a longer wavelength disturb the momentum of the electron?
Here's how I understand it:When a photon strikes an electron near one of the slits, it bounces (sometimes back at the observer) and registered as a sharp point of light for the observer. In the process, the electrons momentum is disturbed to a degree that is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the light used.
In the next experiment, light of a much longer wavelength is used (in order to strike the electrons with a minimal change in electron momentum). Feynman describes how the photon will bounce to the observer, but will cause a blurry area of light for the observer, rather than a well defined point of light.
It also disturbs, but less. How much it disturbs (how much the electron momentum may change) is inversily proportional to the wavelength of the photon.shinokk said:Why doesn't the light of a longer wavelength disturb the momentum of the electron?
shinokk said:It was, but no one answered it...
shinokk said:No, I didn't post it and thank you both for answering. I got the answer I was looking for.
DrChinese said:The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is not a consequence result of disturbance during observations. I hope you don't walk away with that impression.
Elwin.Martin said:Could you elaborate on what it means then?
The Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle is a fundamental principle in quantum mechanics, proposed by German physicist Werner Heisenberg in 1927. It states that the more precisely the position of a particle is known, the less precisely its momentum can be known, and vice versa.
The uncertainty principle means that there is a fundamental limit to how precisely we can measure certain physical quantities, such as position and momentum, at the same time. This is due to the wave-particle duality of matter, where particles behave like waves and have an inherent uncertainty in their position and momentum.
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle is important because it revolutionized our understanding of the microscopic world and introduced the concept of probability and uncertainty into physics. It has also led to the development of important technologies, such as electron microscopy and MRI machines.
No, the uncertainty principle is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics and cannot be violated. It is not a limitation of our measurement tools, but rather a fundamental property of nature.
While the uncertainty principle may not have a direct impact on our daily lives, it has greatly influenced our understanding of the universe and has led to the development of technologies that have improved our lives, such as medical imaging and computer memory. It also highlights the limits of our ability to predict and control the behavior of particles at a microscopic level.