Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
15 cards from this deck
Conjugate variables
Conjugate variables
Pairs that can't both be known with perfect precision
Most famous conjugate pair
Most famous conjugate pair
Position and momentum
What ℏ represents
What ℏ represents
Planck's constant divided by 2π
Year Heisenberg formulated the principle
Year Heisenberg formulated the principle
1927
Niels Bohr's key concept
Niels Bohr's key concept
Complementarity
Complementarity means
Complementarity means
Wave & particle aspects both real but mutually limiting
Einstein's famous quantum quote
Einstein's famous quantum quote
God does not play dice
Uncertainty in physics means
Uncertainty in physics means
Statistical spreads, not ignorance or poor measurement
Why quantum states have intrinsic uncertainty
Why quantum states have intrinsic uncertainty
Reflects wave-like nature of quantum states
Zero-point energy
Zero-point energy
Energy remaining even at absolute zero temperature
Is there a time operator in quantum mechanics?
Is there a time operator in quantum mechanics?
No, there is no time operator
Uncertainty principle's challenge to classical physics
Uncertainty principle's challenge to classical physics
Challenges classical determinism & perfect predictability
Is uncertainty about poor instruments?
Is uncertainty about poor instruments?
No - it's a fundamental quantum limit, not poor instruments
Epistemic humility
Epistemic humility
Recognising limits to knowledge
Objective indeterminacy
Objective indeterminacy
Intrinsic uncertainty in joint quantum properties