Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. Why, exactly, can you not know both the velocity and position of a particle?

Question

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. Why, exactly, can you not know both the velocity and position of a particle?

In: 146

Answer 1

Knowing position or velocity mean you need to measure it. In term of particle, the only way to measure anything means you need to interact with it, as if a blind man had to touch its environment to know where are the walls. (by any of the 4 fundamental forces).

Each interaction mean you exchange energy with the particle. If you want a precise measurement, you need a bigger energy exchange, and thus a bigger uncertainty on the other measurement (be it position or velocity)