What is the Minimum Uncertainty in Block's Speed on a Frictionless Surface?

[footballfreak]

Homework Statement

A 1.70 kg block rests on the icy surface of a frozen pond, which you can assume to be frictionless. If the location of the block is measured to a precision of 0.30 cm, what is the minimum uncertainty in the block's speed, assuming the mass is known exactly?

Homework Equations

xp=h/4(3.14)

The Attempt at a Solution

xp=h/4(3.14)
x(mv)=h/4(3.14)
I plugged in all the values and got v. The answer was wrong. I then multiplies by .0003 and that was also wrong.

 

[theneedtoknow]

potential sources of error # 1:
0.3 cm = 0.003 meters, not 0.0003 meters


potential source of error # 2
they ask you for uncertainty in speed, while the equation for momentum p = mu considers VELOCITY
an uncertainty in speed of 10m/s , for example, is equal to an uncertainty in velocity of 20 m/s, since a speed up to 10 m/s implies a range of velocities from -10m/s to +10m/s
so try multiplying the speed by 2 :) (edit: or rather, try dividing the uncertainty in velocity you get by 2 to get the uncertainty in speed, since the block moves in both directions)

 

[footballfreak]

1.03E-32 the velocity by 2 and got 5.16E-33 which is wrong by 10% to 100%.

I used .003 meters.

 

[theneedtoknow]

are you sure your math is right? using the version of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle that you've provided (there are many variations of it) and the values for m and deltax youve given,
i get an uncertainty in velocity of 3.24807255 × 10-32
which is an uncertainty in speed of 1.62403627 × 10-32

 

[footballfreak]

The math is right i did a million times. 1.62E-32 is wrong and it was last my chance. thanks, anways...