# Uncertainty Principle

1. Feb 6, 2012

### ChemMajor4lyf

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The uncertainty ΔB in some observable B is given by a formula ΔB = √<B^2> - <B>^2.
Use this formula to determine the uncertainty in position, Δx, and momentum Δp, for the ground state of a quantum-mechanical particle of mass m is a 1-D 'box' of length a, and show that the uncertainty principle holds.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Feb 6, 2012

### cepheid

Staff Emeritus
Welcome to PF,

What have you done so far on this problem?

3. Feb 6, 2012

### ChemMajor4lyf

<x> = ∫x abs(ψ)^2 where n=1 and length = a

<x>^2 = (a/2)^2 = a^2/4

and the momentum operator = -i(h/2(pi)) ∂/∂x

I'm just really confused on where to start. I don't understand what I'm suppose to do with the ΔB equation. Plug it in to the Schrodinger Equation?

4. Feb 6, 2012

### cepheid

Staff Emeritus
The B equation is just showing you what the definition of uncertainty is for any observable. So, "B" here represents an arbitrary quantity.

This means that the uncertainty in x is given by $\Delta x = \sqrt{\langle x^2 \rangle - \langle x \rangle^2}$. Similarly, $\Delta p = \sqrt{\langle p^2 \rangle - \langle p \rangle^2}$. Again, the purpose of giving you the B equation was just to state that this definition holds true generically for any observable.

So it's pretty clear that in order to compute the uncertainty, you need to figure out how to compute the expectation value of an operator. The expectation value is the thing in angle brackets. From what you've posted above, you seem to know how to do that already. You compute the expectation value of a quantity by integrating the quantity in question multiplied by the modulus squared of the wavefunction. This integral takes place over all space i.e. over the entire domain over which the wavefunction is defined.

So, in order to compute the expectation value, you need to know what the wavefunction is.. For THAT (determining the wavefunction), you need to solve the Schrodinger equation for this particular 1-D potential, and then take ground state solution. However, I suspect that you've already gone over this solution in class, and therefore you have computed the wavefunctions for this "infinite square well" potential already.