Werner Heisenberg - Revision history

Jmitchell1589 at 00:07, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T00:07:46Z

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	created by John Mitchell		created by John Mitchell
	[[File:~~Bundesarchiv Bild183-R57262, Werner~~ Heisenberg.jpg\|right]]		[[File:Heisenberg.jpg\|right]]
	Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German Theoretical Physicist who studied quantum mechanics (not to be confused with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_DASt7hDs the drug mastermind from Albuquerque]). He is best known for his Uncertainty Principle, which describes the fundamental limit to the accuracy of which the momentum and position of a particle can be measured. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen."		Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German Theoretical Physicist who studied quantum mechanics (not to be confused with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_DASt7hDs the drug mastermind from Albuquerque]). He is best known for his Uncertainty Principle, which describes the fundamental limit to the accuracy of which the momentum and position of a particle can be measured. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen."

Jmitchell1589 at 00:05, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T00:05:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 4 December 2015
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	created by John Mitchell		created by John Mitchell
			[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild183-R57262, Werner Heisenberg.jpg\|right]]
	Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German Theoretical Physicist who studied quantum mechanics (not to be confused with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_DASt7hDs the drug mastermind from Albuquerque]). He is best known for his Uncertainty Principle, which describes the fundamental limit to the accuracy of which the momentum and position of a particle can be measured. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen."		Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German Theoretical Physicist who studied quantum mechanics (not to be confused with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_DASt7hDs the drug mastermind from Albuquerque]). He is best known for his Uncertainty Principle, which describes the fundamental limit to the accuracy of which the momentum and position of a particle can be measured. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen."

Jmitchell1589 at 00:00, 5 December 2015

2015-12-05T00:00:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:00, 4 December 2015
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	created by John Mitchell		created by John Mitchell

	Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German Theoretical Physicist who studied quantum mechanics. He is best known for his Uncertainty Principle, which describes the fundamental limit to the accuracy of which the momentum and position of a particle can be measured. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen."		Werner Karl Heisenberg was a German Theoretical Physicist who studied quantum mechanics (not to be confused with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy_DASt7hDs the drug mastermind from Albuquerque]). He is best known for his Uncertainty Principle, which describes the fundamental limit to the accuracy of which the momentum and position of a particle can be measured. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1932 "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen."

	==Personal Life and Education==		==Personal Life and Education==
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	When a particle's precise momentum is known, it can be represented with a perfect sine wave of wavelength λ. While this momentum is known, the exact location of the particle is spread infinitely across the entire x-axis. However (as seen in the picture), adding together momenta with differing wavelengths will cause destructive interference, narrowing the possible area that the particle can be. As more momenta are added, the possible area for the particle's position decreases, which makes us more sure about it's position. However, as more and more momenta are added, the less is known about the particle's momentum. Thus, only one measurement can be precise.		When a particle's precise momentum is known, it can be represented with a perfect sine wave of wavelength λ. While this momentum is known, the exact location of the particle is spread infinitely across the entire x-axis. However (as seen in the picture), adding together momenta with differing wavelengths will cause destructive interference, narrowing the possible area that the particle can be. As more momenta are added, the possible area for the particle's position decreases, which makes us more sure about it's position. However, as more and more momenta are added, the less is known about the particle's momentum. Thus, only one measurement can be precise.

	~~==Examples==~~		==See Also==

	~~Be sure to show all steps in your solution and include diagrams whenever possible~~

	~~===Simple===~~
	~~===Middling===~~
	~~===Difficult===~~

	~~==Connectedness==~~
	~~#How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?~~
	~~#How is it connected to your major?~~
	~~#Is there an interesting industrial application?~~

	~~==History==~~

	~~Put this idea in historical context. Give the reader the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.~~

	== See ~~also~~ ==

	~~Are there related topics or categories in this wiki resource for the curious reader to explore? How does this topic fit into that context?~~

	===Further reading===		===Further reading===

	~~Books~~, ~~Articles or other print media on this topic~~		''Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science'' by Werner Heisenberg. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 1999.

			''Physics and Beyond: Encounters and Conversations'' by Werner Heisenberg. Harper Collins Ltd Edition, 1971.
	===External links===		===External links===

	~~Internet resources on this topic~~		https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Heisenberg

			http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1932/heisenberg-bio.html

	==References==		==References==

	http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1932/heisenberg-facts.html		http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1932/heisenberg-facts.html

			http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/uncer.html


	[[Category:~~Which Category did you place this in?~~]]		[[Category: Notable Scientists]]

Jmitchell1589 at 22:55, 4 December 2015

2015-12-04T22:55:13Z

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	where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π. This inequality represents the Principle well, because as the standard deviation (the accuracy with which we are measuring the value) of one of the values decreases (gets more accurate), the standard deviation of the other value must increase (become more inaccurate) in order to be greater than or equal to h-bar divided by 2.		where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π. This inequality represents the Principle well, because as the standard deviation (the accuracy with which we are measuring the value) of one of the values decreases (gets more accurate), the standard deviation of the other value must increase (become more inaccurate) in order to be greater than or equal to h-bar divided by 2.

	The Principle can also be understood through physical terms. The principle is explained well in this graphic.		The Principle can also be understood through physical terms. The principle is explained well in this graphic:

	[[File:unc2.gif\|center]]		[[File:unc2.gif\|center]]

			When a particle's precise momentum is known, it can be represented with a perfect sine wave of wavelength λ. While this momentum is known, the exact location of the particle is spread infinitely across the entire x-axis. However (as seen in the picture), adding together momenta with differing wavelengths will cause destructive interference, narrowing the possible area that the particle can be. As more momenta are added, the possible area for the particle's position decreases, which makes us more sure about it's position. However, as more and more momenta are added, the less is known about the particle's momentum. Thus, only one measurement can be precise.

	==Examples==		==Examples==

Jmitchell1589 at 22:10, 4 December 2015

2015-12-04T22:10:08Z

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	The Principle can also be understood through physical terms. The principle is explained well in this graphic.		The Principle can also be understood through physical terms. The principle is explained well in this graphic.

			[[File:unc2.gif\|center]]
	==Examples==		==Examples==

Jmitchell1589 at 20:02, 4 December 2015

2015-12-04T20:02:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:02, 4 December 2015
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	where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π. This inequality represents the Principle well, because as the standard deviation (the accuracy with which we are measuring the value) of one of the values decreases (gets more accurate), the standard deviation of the other value must increase (become more inaccurate) in order to be greater than or equal to h-bar divided by 2.		where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π. This inequality represents the Principle well, because as the standard deviation (the accuracy with which we are measuring the value) of one of the values decreases (gets more accurate), the standard deviation of the other value must increase (become more inaccurate) in order to be greater than or equal to h-bar divided by 2.

	The Principle can also be understood through physical terms.		The Principle can also be understood through physical terms. The principle is explained well in this graphic.


	==Examples==		==Examples==

Jmitchell1589 at 01:26, 4 December 2015

2015-12-04T01:26:12Z

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	<math> \sigma_{x}\sigma_{p} \geq \frac{\hbar}{2} ~~</math>		<math> \sigma_{x}\sigma_{p} \geq \frac{\hbar}{2} ~~</math>

	where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π.		where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π. This inequality represents the Principle well, because as the standard deviation (the accuracy with which we are measuring the value) of one of the values decreases (gets more accurate), the standard deviation of the other value must increase (become more inaccurate) in order to be greater than or equal to h-bar divided by 2.

			The Principle can also be understood through physical terms.
	==Examples==		==Examples==

Jmitchell1589 at 01:22, 4 December 2015

2015-12-04T01:22:31Z

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	<math> \sigma_{x}\sigma_{p} \geq \frac{\hbar}{2} ~~</math>		<math> \sigma_{x}\sigma_{p} \geq \frac{\hbar}{2} ~~</math>

			where σx represents the standard deviation of the position of the particle, where σp represents the standard deviation of the momentum of the particle, and h-bar is Planck's constant divided by 2π.
	==Examples==		==Examples==

Jmitchell1589 at 01:19, 4 December 2015

2015-12-04T01:19:00Z

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	===The Uncertainty Principle===		===The Uncertainty Principle===

	The Uncertainty Principle is the discovery for which Heisenberg is most well known. As Heisenberg himself put it, the principle states "The more precisely the position [of a particle] is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known in this instant, and vice versa." This is not a statement concerning the inevitable error brought upon by using imprecise equipment: the uncertainty would still exist even with perfect instruments. Mathematically, the Uncertainty Principle is represented with this ~~equality~~:		The Uncertainty Principle is the discovery for which Heisenberg is most well known. As Heisenberg himself put it, the principle states "The more precisely the position [of a particle] is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known in this instant, and vice versa." This is not a statement concerning the inevitable error brought upon by using imprecise equipment: the uncertainty would still exist even with perfect instruments. Mathematically, the Uncertainty Principle is represented with this inequality:


			<math> \sigma_{x}\sigma_{p} \geq \frac{\hbar}{2} ~~</math>

	==Examples==		==Examples==

Jmitchell1589 at 06:31, 2 December 2015

2015-12-02T06:31:26Z

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	===Creation of Quantum Mechanics===		===Creation of Quantum Mechanics===

	Before Heisenberg, the generally accepted model of the atom was that of Niels Bohr, in which the electrons of the atom orbited the nucleus in a circular orbit (a model very similar to the planetary model of the solar system). This model, however, did not account for the predicted properties of atoms and molecules, the nature of light (waves or particles?), or the spectra of emissions emitted by atoms. Heisenberg struggled with the concept of the circular orbits of the electrons as they could not be observed, so he tried to develop his own model of quantum mechanics with what could be observed (the emissions and adsorptions of atoms).		Before Heisenberg, the generally accepted model of the atom was that of Niels Bohr, in which the electrons of the atom orbited the nucleus in a circular orbit (a model very similar to the planetary model of the solar system). This model, however, did not account for the predicted properties of atoms and molecules, the nature of light (waves or particles?), or the spectra of emissions emitted by atoms. Heisenberg struggled with the concept of the circular orbits of the electrons as they could not be observed, so he tried to develop his own model of quantum mechanics with what could be observed (the emissions and adsorptions of atoms). Heisenberg's breakthrough, to put it simply, was that in order calculations for particles could not be done using classical arithmetic, but instead with matrices. This version of quantum mechanics was known as "matrix mechanics." This approach to the physics of the atom was revolutionary at the time, because it had a completely different approach to this branch of physics and rejected the classical approach.


			===The Uncertainty Principle===

			The Uncertainty Principle is the discovery for which Heisenberg is most well known. As Heisenberg himself put it, the principle states "The more precisely the position [of a particle] is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known in this instant, and vice versa." This is not a statement concerning the inevitable error brought upon by using imprecise equipment: the uncertainty would still exist even with perfect instruments. Mathematically, the Uncertainty Principle is represented with this equality: