The velocity of a particle is 5.8*10^5 "m/s"5.8105m/s . Calculate the uncertainty in its position. (Mass of particle=9.1x10^(-28)"g"9.1x1028g , h=6.63*10^(-34)h=6.631034)?

1 Answer
Jul 11, 2015

You can use Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle:

Explanation:

Assuming the particle moving along the x-axis we can use Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle:
DeltaxDeltap_x>=h/(4pi)
where:
x is position
p_x is momentum;
h is Planck's Constant;
and the Deltas represent uncertainties.
With your data you can consider:

1] a perfect knowledge of the velocity, implying an uncertainty of zero in the momentum (assuming a constant mass): Deltap_x=0
This gives you an enormous value (tending towards oo) of the uncertainty in the position (you do not know where the particle is!!!);

2] The uncertainty in velocity will be +-5.8xx10^5m/s meaning that the velocity you have is only one of the velocities you measured (the highest, probably, with other measurement representing possible velocities in a certain range from 0 to 5.8xx10^5m/s).
So Deltap_x=(9.1xx10^-28)/1000*5.8xx10^5=5.28xx10^-25kgm/s
and:
Deltax>=h/(Deltap_x4pi)=9.99xx10^-11m
considering that the radius of an atom is ~~10^-10m!!!

3] I thought of an intriguing situation!!! Observing your velocity, I noticed that is quite high!!!
So, I thought to introduce an uncertainty in the momentum given by the difference between:
Classical momentum : p_x=mv=(9.1xx10^-28)/1000*5.8xx10^5=5.28xx10^-25kgm/s
Relativistic momentum :
p_(xr)=(mv)/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)=5.31xx10^-25kgm/s
(where: c=3xx10^8m/s is the speed of light)
So Deltap_x=3xx10^-27kgm/s#

Deltax>=h/(Deltap_x*4*pi)=1.76xx10^-8m