From what I understand, the uncertainty principle states that there is a fundame
ID: 1374911 • Letter: F
Question
From what I understand, the uncertainty principle states that there is a fundamental natural limit to how accurately we can measure velocity and momentum at the same time. It's not a limit on equipment but just a natural phenomenon.
However, isn't this just an observational limit? There is a definite velocity and momentum, we just don't know it. As in, we can only know so much about the universe, but the universe still has definite characteristics.
Considering this, how do a wide range of quantum mechanical phenomena work? For example, quantum tunneling - its based on the fact that the position of the object is indefinite. But the position is definite, we just don't know it definitely. Or the famous light slot experiment? The creation of more light slots due to uncertainty of the photon's positions?
What I am basically asking is why is a limit on the observer, affecting the phenomenon he is observing? Isn't that equivalent to saying because we haven't seen Star X, it doesn't exist? It's limiting the definition of the universe to the limits of our observation!
Explanation / Answer
There is a definine velocity and momentum, we just don't know it.
Nope. There is no definite velocity--this was the older interpretation. The particle has all (possible) velocities at once;it is in a wavefunction, a superposition of all of these states. This can actually be verified by stuff like the double-slit experiment with one photon--we cannot explain single-photon-fringes unless we accept the fact that the photon is in "both slits at once".
So, it's not a knowledge limit. The particle really has no definite position/whatever.
Isn't that equivalent to saying because we haven't seen Star X, it doesn't exist? It's limiting the definition of the universe to the limits of our observation!
No, it's equivalent to saying "because we haven't gotten any evidence of Star X, it may or may not exist --it's existence is not definite" Technically, an undetected object does exist as a wavefunction. Though it gets slightly philosophical and boils down to "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
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