Question

Bell proved that a certain particle is expected to behave a certain way if there is a hidden variable that determines its eventual state beforehand. Because this doesn’t occur, modern physics supposedly rules out all local hidden variables that would help us determine quantum states with certainty.

A) How do you know how a particle would behave if a hidden variable was operating on it if you don’t know what that hidden variable is in the first place?

Answer 1

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the exact position and velocity of a particle in quantum mechanics. This principle arises from the wave-particle duality of matter particles and radiation.

Step-by-step explanation:

In quantum mechanics, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that it is impossible to simultaneously determine both the position and the velocity of a particle. This principle arises from the wave-particle duality of matter particles and radiation. According to the uncertainty principle, the act of observation or measurement affects the particle being observed, making it impossible to know both its position and velocity with certainty.

Even if there were hidden variables determining the eventual state of a particle beforehand, the uncertainty principle would still prevent us from knowing the exact behavior of the particle. The uncertainty principle is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics and applies to all particles in the quantum world.

For example, if we try to measure the position of a particle with high precision, we disrupt its momentum, and vice versa. This trade-off between position and momentum is inherent in the quantum nature of particles, and it leads to the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. Instead of knowing the exact state of a particle, we can only determine the probability of finding it at different positions or with different momenta.