Uncertainty Principle (Noun)
Meaning
(quantum theory) the theory that it is impossible to measure both energy and time (or position and momentum) completely accurately at the same time.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics suggests that the more precisely the position of a particle is measured, the less precisely its momentum can be known.
- The uncertainty principle states that certain properties of subatomic particles cannot be measured with infinite precision simultaneously.
- In 1927, Werner Heisenberg introduced the uncertainty principle, which states that it is impossible to know both the position and the momentum of a particle with infinite precision.
- According to the uncertainty principle, it is impossible to precisely measure both energy and time, meaning researchers must balance precision with broad data sets.
- The uncertainty principle remains a cornerstone of quantum physics, explaining the probabilistic nature of the behavior of subatomic particles.