Heisenberg uncertainty principle

American  

noun

Physics.

1. uncertainty principle.

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Heisenberg uncertainty principle British  

/ ˈhaɪzənˌbɜːɡ /

noun

1. a more formal name for uncertainty principle

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Heisenberg uncertainty principle Cultural  

1. See uncertainty principle.

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Etymology

Origin of Heisenberg uncertainty principle

First recorded in 1965–70; named after W. K. Heisenberg

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Heisenberg uncertainty principle

Since a bolometer measures power, or photon number, it is not bound to add quantum noise stemming from the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in the way that parametric amplifiers are.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2024

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that if you simultaneously measure the position and momentum of an electron, the product of the uncertainties in those measurements must exceed a “standard quantum limit.”

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 27, 2022

Calculate the mass in GeV/c2 of a virtual carrier particle that has a range limited to 10−30 m by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

The Heisenberg uncertainty principle tells us what the minimum uncertainty for quantum waves must be: the smaller the uncertainty in position, the larger the uncertainty in momentum – and vice versa.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 7, 2011

Because we have some information about the particles’ position, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle implies that we must have some uncertainty about the particles’ velocity—their energy.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife