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

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

By creating this stable state, the researchers were able to make many measurements of the same entanglement with the goal of “evading” the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

From Scientific American • May 6, 2021

Another consequence of the wave character of all particles is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which limits the precision with which certain physical quantities can be known simultaneously.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

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

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