NEET Chemistry: Heisenberg uncertainty principle Practice Questions
12 free multiple-choice questions on Heisenberg uncertainty principle (Atomic Structure) for NEET Chemistry, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.
Practice thousands more NEET questions in the app →Q1. If the uncertainty in the position of a particle is zero (Δx = 0), what does the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle imply about the uncertainty in its momentum (Δp)?
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Correct answer: B — Δp must be infinite
If Δx = 0, the equation Δx Δp ≥ ħ/2 leads to 0 · Δp ≥ ħ/2, which is only possible if Δp approaches infinity.
Q2. If the uncertainty in the momentum of a particle is known, what is the minimum uncertainty imposed on the measurement of its position?
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Correct answer: A — Position uncertainty is inversely proportional to momentum uncertainty
According to the HUP, Δx Δp ≥ ħ/2. Therefore, if Δp is known, Δx must have a minimum corresponding value.
Q3. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle primarily relates the uncertainty in which two complementary physical quantities?
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Correct answer: A — position and momentum
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle fundamentally establishes a limit on the precision with which pairs of conjugate variables, such as position (x) and momentum (p), can be simultaneously known.
Q4. If the uncertainty in the position of an electron is reduced to a very small value, what happens to the uncertainty in its momentum according to the uncertainty principle?
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Correct answer: B — The uncertainty in momentum must increase to maintain the inequality.
According to the principle, if the uncertainty in position (Δx) decreases, the uncertainty in momentum (Δp) must increase to keep the product (Δx)(Δp) above the minimum limit.
Q5. Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship imposed by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle?
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Correct answer: C — It sets a minimum unavoidable spread between the uncertainties of conjugate variables.
The principle sets a minimum, unavoidable lower bound on the product of the uncertainties of complementary variables, reflecting the inherent limits of measurement.
Q6. If we measure the momentum of an electron with very high accuracy, the resulting state will have a larger uncertainty regarding which other property?
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Correct answer: C — Its position
Because momentum and position are conjugate variables, increasing the precision in momentum necessarily increases the uncertainty in position, and vice versa.
Q7. In the context of quantum mechanics, what is the minimum possible product of the uncertainties in position and momentum for a particle?
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Correct answer: B — ħ/2
According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, the minimum value for the product of the uncertainties (Δx Δp) is ħ/2, where ħ= h/2π.
Q8. Which pair of physical quantities are linked by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle?
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Correct answer: C — Momentum and Position
The uncertainty principle links the uncertainty in position and the uncertainty in momentum. The mathematical relationship involves these two quantities, defining the inherent limit on their simultaneous measurement accuracy.
Q9. According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, the product of the uncertainty in the position and the uncertainty in the momentum of a particle must be at least equal to:
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Correct answer: B — ħ/2
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that the product of the uncertainty in position (Δx) and the uncertainty in momentum (Δp) must be greater than or equal to the reduced Planck constant divided by two, i.e., Δx Δp ≥ ħ/2.
Q10. The mathematical form of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is given by:
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Correct answer: D — Δx Δp ≥ ħ/2
The standard form of the uncertainty principle relates the product of the uncertainty in position (Δx) and the uncertainty in momentum (Δp) to Planck's constant (ħ).
Q11. The uncertainty principle implies that the position and momentum of a particle cannot be simultaneously known with perfect accuracy, which reflects a limitation inherent in the nature of quantum objects.
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Correct answer: B — True
The HUP defines a fundamental trade-off; simultaneous perfect knowledge of both position and momentum is physically impossible.
Q12. If the uncertainty in momentum of a particle is very large (Δp → ∞), what happens to the uncertainty in its position (Δx)?
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Correct answer: A — Δx becomes very large.
Since Δx Δp ≥ ħ/2, if Δp is very large, Δx can also become very large (or the constraint on Δx is relaxed), meaning the position uncertainty increases.
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