Question #d68af

1 Answer
May 25, 2016

#approx1.980xx10^-11m#

Explanation:

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle or simply called Uncertainty Principle states that for any particle it is impossible to know simultaneously both position and momentum precisely.
Mathematically stated

#Deltax*Delta p approxh# .......(1)

where #Deltax# is uncertainty in position, #Delta p# is uncertainty in momentum, and #h# is Planck's Constant and is #6.626xx 10^(-34) m^2 kg // s#.

Given in the problem uncertainty in speed of a proton #=+-0.01xx10^4ms^-1#
#=> Delta v=0.02xx10^4ms^-1#
#:.# uncertainty in momentum #Delta p=m_pxxDeltav#
#=1.673 xx 10^-27xx0.02xx10^4 #
#=3.346xx10^-25#
Inserting in (1) the known and calulated values
#Deltax approx(6.626xx 10^(-34))/(3.346xx10^-25)#
#approx1.980xx10^-11m#

It is worth noting here that this value is larger than the diameter of the hydrogen nucleus. Which is size of proton itself and is in the range of #1.75 fm (1.75xx10^(−15) m)#.