Answer to Question #214045 in Physical Chemistry for dicky

Question

Explain the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle.

i. Micro: Determine the uncertainty in finding the electron in an atom with a 1% uncertainty in determining its speed.

ii. Macro: determine the uncertainty in finding a student along a 100 m track with uncertainty in the determination of his speed.

Answer 1

I) It is therefore impossible to follow an electron in its orbit around an atom. If you measure the electron's position, you will find it in a definite location

ii) The uncertainty of a measuring instrument is estimated as plus or minus (±) half the smallest scale division. For a thermometer with a mark at every 1.0°C, the uncertainty is ± 0.5°C. This means that if a student reads a value from this thermometer as 24.0°C, they could give the result as 24.0°C ± 0.5°C.