Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental concepts, mathematical formulas, and historical context of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle as discussed in the lecture.

Bohr's theory

A framework that considers an electron as a material particle whose position and momentum can be determined with accuracy.

de-Broglie

The scientist whose wave model suggests that an electron's exact position and velocity cannot be determined simultaneously because a wave extends throughout space.

Werner Heisenberg

The physicist who presented a principle in 1927 stating the impossibility of measuring the exact position and momentum of small bodies like electrons simultaneously.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

A statement that it is impossible to measure simultaneously the exact position and exact momentum of a body as small as an electron.

Uncertainty in Position ($\Delta x$)

One of the two variables in Heisenberg's relationship; if this value is 0, the uncertainty in velocity becomes infinite ($\infty$).

Uncertainty in Momentum ($\Delta p$)

A variable in the uncertainty principle related to position by the inequality $\Delta x \cdot \Delta p \ge \frac{h}{4\pi}$.

Velocity Uncertainty Relationship

The mathematical expression relating position and velocity uncertainties: $\Delta x \cdot \Delta v \ge \frac{h}{4\pi m}$.

Energy-Time Uncertainty Relation

An alternative form of the principle represented by the relationship $\Delta E \cdot \Delta t \ge \frac{h}{4\pi}$.

Planck's constant ($h$)

The fundamental constant used in the equations of the uncertainty principle to define the lower limit of measurement precision.

Accuracy Trade-off

The principle that if the position is known quite accurately (very small $\Delta x$), the uncertainty in velocity ($\Delta v$) becomes very large.