Not All is Uncertain as a Consequence of Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that paved the road to understanding many uncertainties in the ability of an observer to measure more than one variable simultaneously. The Uncertainty Principle refers to the fact that the accuracy in one measurement, within some range of certainty, comes at the cost of accuracy in another measurement (Rohrlich 147-51). Not all experimental values are uncertain because we can determine “x” and “y” precisely, just not at the same time. It is, therefore, incorrect to summarize the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle saying, “everything is uncertain.”
It is wrong to summarize Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle by stating, “everything is uncertain” because accurate experimental measurements are possible, even at the sub-atomic level. For example, a particle’s position can be detected very precisely with light of a certain wavelength. Using shorter wavelengths improves the accuracy of the position measurement, but such waves carry more energy that will disturb the particle’s energy. This prevents us from establishing the particle’s momentum upon detection. The disturbance of the particle cannot be avoided with better experimental technique considering that any matter or energy based instrument will influence the particle being measured. One could argue, that the initial particle velocity could be back-calculated, so both parameters could be known simultaneously. Yet, this only determines past that are not useful for present conditions or future predictions. Thus, Heisenberg did not suggest that all measurements are uncertain, rather he demonstrated that making a measurement of one parameter fundamentally changes another property of the object such that...

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...r dreamlike illusion (Frenkel).
In summary, it is incorrect to summary Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle as, “everything is uncertain” for several reasons. Heisenberg did not imply that all measurements are uncertain, rather he demonstrated that making a measurement of one parameter fundamentally changes another property of the object such that the two parameters can never be known at once. While many physical properties can only be described in terms of probabilities, this ever-present uncertainty is not a consequence of the Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle.

References
Frenkel, Edward. "Is the Universe a Simulation?" The New York Times 14 February 2014. Online. .
Rohrlich, Fritz. From Paradox to Reality. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992. Print.