Hi all,
I think the uncertainty principle is a little more complex. It is often described as the result of particles colliding thereby "altering" the outcome but this is actually wrong. From what I understand it is based around a bottom limit placed on a quantum system.
The uncertainty is based on the product of the position (p) and momentum (m) being equal to or above this bottom limit (p*m>=hbar/2) where hbar is Plancks constant h divided by 2pi.
Lets say the bottom limit is 16 (ie, hbar/2 = 16) and the uncertainty of the position is 4, then the uncertainty of the momentum must be >= 4, as 4*4 (m*p) must be >= 16, which is true in this case.
If we reduce our uncertainty in the position (p) to 2, then the uncertainty in the momentum (m) can no longer be 4 as 2*4 (p*m) = 8, which is under our bottom limit 16. So by reducing the uncertainy in the position to 2 we increase the uncertainty in the momentum to a minimum of 8 (2*8>=16).
Hope I've got that right and I'm not on drugs
.
Cheers,
Andrew.