Uncertainty in the speed of the electron


Let us use the uncertainty principle to (very roughly) estimate the size of a hydro- gen atom. Picture the hydrogen atom as an electron orbiting a proton at close to the speed of light. The uncertainty in the speed of the electron is therefore, ?v = c. Assume the uncertainty is as small as allowed by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, namely: ?x ?(mv) ≈ h. The mass of the electron is me = 9.1 × 10-31 kg. Use this information to estimate the size of the hydrogen atom. Compare your result to the actual size which is about 10-10 m.

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Physics: Uncertainty in the speed of the electron
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