Editing Uncertainty Principle (section)

== Why This Works ==

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that you can measure the momentum '''or''' the position of an atomic particle, but you cannot measure both at the same time. On the atomic scale, the act of measuring or observing a particle's state adds energy into the system, which affects the particle. If you try to measure the particle's momentum, the energy you add by measuring it moves the particle, affecting the position. Likewise, if you observe the particle's position, the energy you add by observing it changes the momentum it had. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle can be written as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="color:black; background-color:#ddd; text-align: left; right-margin: auto"
|+ σ<sub>x</sub> * σ<sub>p</sub> <u>'''>'''</u> ħ/2
|-
| σ<sub>x</sub>: Standard Deviation of Position
|-
| σ<sub>p</sub>: Standard Deviation of Momentum
|-
| ħ: Planck Constant, where ħ = h/(2π)
|}

Without getting too deep into the math, one can see that the values for momentum and position affect each other. If one value becomes smaller, or more precise, then the other value has to become bigger, or less precise. Therefore, if one knows a lot about the momentum, they cannot know as much about the position. Likewise, if one knows about the position, then they cannot know much about the momentum.

When we use the "Quantum Hairdryer" to try and find the particle, we are using the light on the hairdryer to try and observe it, or find the position. While we are doing that, however, the air blowing out of the dryer moves the ball around. The blowing air represents the energy we add into the system by trying to observe the particle, so although we are able to find the particle, there is no way we can measure the momentum that it will have, since the energy we add in is causing the momentum to constantly change. Likewise, we could try to find the momentum of the particle by having it blow the ball in a circle, making it swing around at the speed of the moving air. While the ball is doing this, however, we cannot pinpoint the exact location of the ball at all times with our blower, and only know that it will be in a general area swinging around. If we tried to pinpoint the location, the momentum will be lost, and vice-versa.