Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle states that it is impossible to know both the exact position and momentum of a subatomic particle simultaneously. This principle introduces inherent uncertainty into our measurements.
Related terms
Wave-particle duality: It refers to the concept that particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties.
Quantum mechanics: It is a branch of physics that deals with phenomena at extremely small scales and explains how particles behave.
Observer effect: The idea that simply observing or measuring something can alter its behavior or properties.
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