Question

An electron and a 0.033 0-kg bullet each have a velocity of magnitude 495 m/s, accurate to within 0.010 0%. Within what lower limit could we determine the position of each object along the direction of the velocity

Answer 1

1.170*10^-3 m

3.23*10^-32 m

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve this, we apply Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

the principle states that, "if we know everything about where a particle is located, then we know nothing about its momentum, and vice versa." it also can be interpreted as "if the uncertainty of the position is small, then the uncertainty of the momentum is large, and vice versa"

Δp * Δx = h/4π

m(e).Δv * Δx = h/4π

If we make Δx the subject of formula, by rearranging, we have

Δx = h / 4π * m(e).Δv

on substituting the values, we have

for the electron

Δx = (6.63*10^-34) / 4 * 3.142 * 9.11*10^-31 * 4.95*10^-2

Δx = 6.63*10^-34 / 5.67*10^-31

Δx = 1.170*10^-3 m

for the bullet

Δx = (6.63*10^-34) / 4 * 3.142 * 0.033*10^-31 * 4.95*10^-2

Δx = 6.63*10^-34 / 0.021

Δx = 3.23*10^-32 m

therefore, we can say that the lower limits are 1.170*10^-3 m for the electron and 3.23*10^-32 for the bullet