Five Different Perspectives on Understanding Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle in University Chemistry Courses
WU Wen-Na1, FENG Kai1, HAN Yan-Yang1, LIU Shan-Shan1, HE Tao1, YANG Xin1, LIU Jie1, LI Qing-Zhong1, LIU Hua-Jie2, ZHANG Tao1**
1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China; 2. School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Abstract Quantum mechanics has revealed that the motion of microscopic particles cannot be predicted using the deterministic formulas of classical physics,rather it can only be described through probability distributions.Werner Heisenberg proposed the Uncertainty Principle in 1927,which states that the position of a moving particle and its momentum cannot be precisely measured simultaneously,mathematically expressed as Δx·Δp≥h/4π.Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is a crucial topic across several chemistry courses.A deep understanding of the principle is not only beneficial for enhancing one’s knowledge of modern chemistry but also supportive of advancing scientific researches.Herein,we recapitulate the historical background of the Uncertainty Principle,and present five different perspectives to understand the Principle,such as meaning of the name,real-life examples,physical examples,mathematical derivation,and philosophical understanding,so to help teachers and students grasp the concepts more thoroughly.This year marks the 100th anniversary of Heisenberg’s formulation of quantum mechanics,and we commemorate this milestone through our discussion.
WU Wen-Na, FENG Kai, HAN Yan-Yang, LIU Shan-Shan, HE Tao, YANG Xin, LIU Jie, LI Qing-Zhong, LIU Hua-Jie, ZHANG Tao. Five Different Perspectives on Understanding Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle in University Chemistry Courses[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Education, 2026, 47(2): 123-129.
