How to use the heisenberg uncertainty calculator
Find the minimum momentum or velocity uncertainty for a given position uncertainty. Enter position uncertainty, mass in the fields above; the minimum momentum uncertainty, minimum speed uncertainty are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- dx — Position uncertainty (nm)
- m — Mass (kg)
Worked example
With position uncertainty = 1 nm, mass = 9.109e-31 kg, the calculator gives minimum momentum uncertainty ≈ 5.2729 × 10⁻²⁶ kg·m/s; minimum speed uncertainty ≈ 57,886.26 m/s.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the heisenberg uncertainty calculation?
Minimum momentum uncertainty (kg·m/s) = HPLANCK / (4 × π) / (dx × 1e-9). Minimum speed uncertainty (m/s) = [Minimum momentum uncertainty] / m. Here dx is position uncertainty (nm), m is mass (kg).
What inputs do I need for the heisenberg uncertainty calculator?
You need position uncertainty in nm, mass in kg. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.