Uncertainty principle##\Delta H\Delta Q##, where Q is time-independent

In summary, the conversation discusses the time-independent operator Q and its commutation with the Hamiltonian. The uncertainty principle is also mentioned and it is concluded that the product of the uncertainties of Q and the Hamiltonian must be greater than or equal to zero. However, equating the Hamiltonian with the time derivative leads to incorrect conclusions.
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Foracle
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TL;DR Summary
Why is ##\Delta H\Delta Q \ge |\frac{ħ}{2}##d<Q>/dt##|##
Let Q be a time-independent operator.
##[H,Q] = iħ[\frac{d}{dt},Q]##
Since Q is time-independent, ##[H,Q]=0##

And from the uncertainty principle :
##\Delta H\Delta Q \ge |<\Psi|\frac{1}{2i}[H,Q]|\Psi>|##
From ##[H,Q] = 0##, I concluded that ##\Delta H\Delta Q \ge 0##

But by evaluating d<Q>/dt, it can be found that ##\Delta H\Delta Q \ge |\frac{ħ}{2}##d<Q>/dt##|##

I know that the right answer is the latter, but I just want to know why ##\Delta H\Delta Q \ge 0## is wrong.
 
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  • #2
You go wrong when you equate the Hamiltonian with the time derivative. Your identification implies there is no difference between the Hamiltonians describing different systems or the time-evolution of the wavefunctions for those systems.
 
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1. What is the uncertainty principle?

The uncertainty principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that states that it is impossible to know both the exact position and momentum of a particle at the same time. This means that there will always be some degree of uncertainty in our measurements of these properties.

2. How does the uncertainty principle relate to time-independent quantities?

The uncertainty principle can also be applied to time-independent quantities, such as energy and time. This means that it is impossible to know the exact energy and time of a particle simultaneously, and there will always be some degree of uncertainty in our measurements of these quantities.

3. What is the formula for the uncertainty principle in terms of energy and time?

The uncertainty principle can be expressed mathematically as ##\Delta E\Delta t \geq \frac{\hbar}{2}##, where ##\Delta E## is the uncertainty in energy and ##\Delta t## is the uncertainty in time. ##\hbar## is the reduced Planck's constant, which has a value of approximately ##1.054 \times 10^{-34}## joule seconds.

4. How does the uncertainty principle impact our understanding of the physical world?

The uncertainty principle has significant implications for our understanding of the physical world. It challenges the classical notion of determinism, which states that the state of a system can be precisely determined if all the relevant information is known. Instead, the uncertainty principle suggests that there will always be inherent uncertainty in our measurements and predictions of the physical world.

5. Can the uncertainty principle be violated?

No, the uncertainty principle is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics and has been extensively tested and confirmed through various experiments. It is a fundamental limitation of our ability to measure and understand the behavior of particles at the quantum level.

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