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Question

The effect of uncertainty principle is significant only for motion of microscopic particles and is negligible for the macroscopic particles. Justify the statement with the help of a suitable example.

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Solution

Statement justification with example

According to Heisenberg uncertainty principle:

ΔxΔph4π

And, Δp=mΔv.

Thus, Δx,mΔvh4π

Macroscopic particles are visible to naked eyes while microscopic particles includes atoms and molecules that are not visible to naked eyes

For Example, If the uncertainty principle is applied to a macroscopic object of mass one milligram (106kg), then

ΔvΔx=h4π×m

ΔvΔx=6.626×1034kgm2s4×3.14×106kg

ΔvΔx=0.52×1028m2s1

While, this same value for product of uncertainties (velocity and momentum ) for a microscopic particle ( i.e. electron with mass of (9.11×1031Kg) is

ΔvΔx=6.626×1034kgm2s4×3.14×9.11×1031kg

ΔvΔx=0.57×104m2s1

The value of ΔvΔx (product of uncertainity) obtained for macroscopic particle is extremely small in comparison to microscopic particle. and thus it is insignificant for the uncertainty principle to apply to macroscopic particle

Conclusion:

The effect of uncertainty principle is significant only for motion of microscopic particles and is negligible for the macroscopic particles.

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