Video Transcript
Who first introduced the
uncertainty principle?
In this question, we need to
determine who introduced the uncertainty principle. Let us first describe this
scientific theory, and then we can figure out the answer to this question.
The uncertainty principle states we
cannot precisely know the position and momentum of some microscopic objects, such as
subatomic particles. Let us think about an electron
around a positively charged nucleus. We should consider the situation
where scientists use photons to determine the position of the electron.
The diagram shows the electron
location becomes apparent as a photon falls on the negatively charged particle. The electron gets a different
momentum as it interacts with the electromagnetic packet of energy. So, we can effectively determine
the position of the electron as its momentum changes and becomes unknown. Here, we see there is a fundamental
limit for figuring out the certain complementary variables of microscopic
objects. For example, pertaining to the
electron, we cannot precisely determine pairs of properties like position and
momentum.
Werner Heisenberg introduced this
scientific principle, and he is incredibly famous because of his contribution to
science. This scientific theory
fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe. It showed that some parts and
properties of matter are inherently unknowable.
Therefore, Heisenberg first
introduced the uncertainty principle.
