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

To the chagrin of many physicists, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle determines that one cannot simultaneously know a signal's position and momentum, or voltage and current, with accuracy.

From Science Daily

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

Others exploit the trade-offs implicit in the famous Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

From Science Magazine

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

The force of nothing is caused by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

From Literature