Final answer:
The question involves the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle to estimate the minimum uncertainty in the velocity of a beetle. By applying the principle's formula and the given uncertainties in position, we can calculate the beetle's potential velocity despite it appearing stationary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question deals with the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in physics, which states that there is a fundamental limit to the precision with which certain pairs of physical properties of a particle, such as position (Δx) and momentum (Δp), can be known simultaneously. For a beetle observed to be stationary with an uncertainty in position of 10-2 mm, we will estimate the uncertainty in its velocity (Δv).
The uncertainty principle is represented by the inequality ΔxΔp ≥ ħ/2, where ħ is the reduced Planck's constant (1.055 × 10-34 kg·m2/s). First, convert the uncertainty in position to meters (Δx = 10-5 m). Next, we calculate Δp using the relation Δp ≥ ħ/(2Δx). Finally, we can compute the uncertainty in velocity by dividing the uncertainty in momentum by the mass of the beetle (m = 1.0 × 10-6 kg).
For our calculations: Δp ≥ (1.055 × 10-34 kg·m2/s) / (2 × 10-5 m) gives the minimum Δp. Then, Δv ≥ Δp / m gives the minimum uncertainty in the beetle's velocity, which is how fast it might actually be moving in grounding theoretical terms.