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A wave does not have a discrete position, it has an area, a line defining its location maybe, but never a point. You can say that a wave has a focus point (a circular wave has a center) but such a point is not where any part of the wave is - where it was maybe - but not where it now is.

The fact that an electron is a wave (we may think of it as one in certain circumstances) ensures that it does not have a definite position.

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14y ago
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2w ago

The uncertainty principle states that it is impossible to know both the position and momentum of a particle with complete accuracy. This means that we cannot predict the exact trajectory of an electron because its position and momentum at any given time cannot be precisely determined simultaneously.

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9y ago

It is impossible to predict because you cannot know both the position and velocity of the electron simultaneously.

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Q: Why does the uncertainty principle make it impossible to predict a trajectory for the electron?
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Who said that the location and velocity of an electron couldn't be known?

Werner Heisenberg proposed the uncertainty principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know both the exact position and exact velocity of a particle, such as an electron. This principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.


According to the modern theory the exact location of what is uncertain?

According to modern physics, the exact location of an electron within an atom is uncertain. This uncertainty is described by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the exact position and momentum of a particle.


What part of an electron is so small that it is impossible to describe exactly where it is in an atom?

The electron cloud is the part of an electron that is so small and constantly moving that it is impossible to precisely define its exact position within an atom. This is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.


What principle says that the location and velocity of electrons cannot be known at the same time?

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle states that the more precisely we know the position of a particle (like an electron), the less precisely we can know its momentum and vice versa. This uncertainty arises from the wave-particle duality of quantum mechanics.


What is the velocity of an electron with a mass of 9.11 x 10-31 kg at a position with an uncertainty of 5x10-10 m?

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that the product of the uncertainty in position and momentum is at least equal to h/4*pi. The momentum of the electron is equal to its mass multiplied by its velocity. Using the uncertainty principle, you can calculate an approximate lower limit for the velocity.

Related questions

Who develped a principle that says it is impossible to know both location and mass of an electron at the same time?

Werner Heisenberg developed this principle, known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.


An uncertainty theory used with the modern electron cloud model of the atom that says it is impossible to determine an electron's exact position and speed as it moves around?

Werner Heisenberg proposed in 1927 the uncertainty principle.


What scientist said you cannot predict exactly where an electron is or what path it will take?

The scientist who said this is Werner Heisenberg. He formulated the uncertainty principle, which states that it is impossible to know both the exact position and momentum of a particle, such as an electron, simultaneously.


Proof of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle?

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the exact position and momentum of a particle. This principle arises from the wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics, where the act of measuring one quantity disrupts the other. Mathematically, the principle is represented by the inequality Δx * Δp ≥ ħ/2, where Δx is the uncertainty in position, Δp is the uncertainty in momentum, and ħ is the reduced Planck constant.


Who said that the location and velocity of an electron couldn't be known?

Werner Heisenberg proposed the uncertainty principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know both the exact position and exact velocity of a particle, such as an electron. This principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.


What scientist said that the position and speed of an electron is uncertain?

Werner Heisenberg developed the uncertainty principle, which states that it is impossible to measure simultaneously both the position and the momentum of a particle with absolute precision. This principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.


What does the Heisensberg uncertainty principal state?

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that it is impossible to know both the position and momentum of an electron within at atom's electron cloud. As soon as you determine one property, the other is rendered invalid by your means of measurement.


According to the modern theory the exact location of what is uncertain?

According to modern physics, the exact location of an electron within an atom is uncertain. This uncertainty is described by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the exact position and momentum of a particle.


Using heisenberg's uncertainity principle prove the non existence of the electron inside the nucleus?

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that the position and momentum of a particle cannot be known simultaneously with precision. If an electron were to exist inside the nucleus, its position would have to be known precisely, violating the principle. Due to the high momentum required for the electron to be confined within the nucleus, its position would become highly uncertain, making it improbable for the electron to exist inside the nucleus.


What are applications of uncertainty principle?

Uncertainty Principle can be used to give a drawback to Bohr's Model of an atom. In that atomic model Bohr said that electrons exist in certain well defined energy levels, to give a contradiction to this statement uncertainty principle may be used.


What part of an electron is so small that it is impossible to describe exactly where it is in an atom?

The electron cloud is the part of an electron that is so small and constantly moving that it is impossible to precisely define its exact position within an atom. This is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.


Why can we not accurately predict where in the electron cloud electrons can be found?

We cannot accurately predict where in the electron cloud electrons can be found because of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This principle states that it is impossible to simultaneously know the exact position and momentum of an electron. As a result, we can only describe the probability distribution or the likelihood of finding an electron in a particular region of the electron cloud.