The principle of quantum mechanics that associates the physical properties of particles into pairs, such that both together cannot be measured to within more than a certain degree of accuracy. If A and V form such a pair (called a conjugate pair) then: ΔAΔV > k where k is a constant and ΔA and ΔV are variances in the experimental values for the attributes A and V. The best-known instance of the equation relates the position and momentum of an electron: ΔpΔx > h where h is Planck's constant. This is the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. See also Bell's theorem, Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen thought experiment.
Philosophy dictionary. Academic. 2011.