How Does the Uncertainty Principle Affect Momentum Measurement Accuracy?

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 2K views
tymartin
Messages
9
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Suppose you want to measure the position of an electron to within 1 angstrom. If you also want to measure its momentum, how accurately can you do this if you don't want to mess up your measurement of its position?

Homework Equations



An angstrom is 1 x 10-10


The Attempt at a Solution


Well the principle states that it's impossible to know both the position and momentum of a particle at the same time. My question is to what degree of accuracy can I measure the position of the electron?
 
Physics news on Phys.org