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What does the Heisenberg uncertainty principle state about measuring a particle's position and momentum together?
AIncreasing the precision of one measurement decreases the precision of the other
BBoth quantities can always be measured with unlimited precision at once
CPosition can always be measured exactly, regardless of momentum
DMomentum has no effect on how well position can be measured
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Increasing the precision of one measurement decreases the precision of the other
1. Heisenberg showed that measuring a particle's position disturbs its momentum, and vice versa.
2. Greater precision in measuring one of these quantities produces less precision in measuring the other.
3. This rules out measuring both position and momentum with unlimited precision at the same time.
4. Position cannot always be measured exactly regardless of momentum, since the two are linked.
5. So a trade-off between position and momentum precision is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Atom", section 22.1 The Structure of the Atom_
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