Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Conservation of Momentum: Introduction

Conservation of Momentum: Introduction

The total momentum of a system consisting of N interacting objects is constant in time or is conserved. A system must meet two requirements for its momentum to be conserved:

Conservation of Momentum: Problem Solving

Conservation of Momentum: Problem Solving

Solving problems using the conservation of momentum requires four basic steps:

Principle of Linear Impulse and Momentum for a System of Particles

Principle of Linear Impulse and Momentum for a System of Particles

In the context of a system of particles moving relative to an inertial frame of reference, the equation of motion is a crucial tool for understanding the dynamics of the system. This equation, which accounts for external forces acting on each particle, plays a fundamental role in describing the system's behavior.
Notably, internal forces between particles, occurring in equal and opposite collinear pairs, cancel out and are not part of the equation of motion. This exclusion simplifies the...

Conservation of Linear Momentum for a System of Particles

Conservation of Linear Momentum for a System of Particles

In the dynamic realm of billiards, a fascinating interplay of forces governs the motion of cue balls and stationary balls. When the cue ball collides with a stationary ball, linear momentum is exchanged. The cue ball imparts a fraction of its linear momentum to the stationary ball, causing the cue ball to decelerate while initiating the motion of the stationary ball.
The impulsive force at play during this interaction is of extremely short duration, rendering its impulse negligible. When...

Principle of Linear Impulse and Momentum for a Single Particle

Principle of Linear Impulse and Momentum for a Single Particle

Linear momentum is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the motion of an object. It is a vector quantity, having a magnitude equal to the product of its mass and its velocity, and direction along the object's velocity. On the other hand, linear impulse, also known as momentum impulse, is a concept in physics related to the change in the linear momentum of an object. Impulse is a vector quantity defined as the product of force and the time over which the force is applied.
Delving into...

Collisions in Multiple Dimensions: Introduction

Collisions in Multiple Dimensions: Introduction

It is far more common for collisions to occur in two dimensions; that is, the initial velocity vectors are neither parallel nor antiparallel to each other. Let's see what complications arise from this. The first idea is that momentum is a vector. Like all vectors, it can be expressed as a sum of perpendicular components (usually, though not always, an x-component and a y-component, and a z-component if necessary). Thus, when the statement of conservation of momentum is written for a problem,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Direct tests of measurement uncertainty relations: what it takes.

Physical review letters·2015

Same author

Focusing in Arthurs-Kelly-type joint measurements with correlated probes.

Physical review letters·2014

Same author

Proof of Heisenberg's error-disturbance relation.

Physical review letters·2013

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Published on: August 30, 2016

Position measurements obeying momentum conservation.

Paul Busch¹, Leon Loveridge

¹Mathematical Physics Section, Department of Mathematics, University of York, York, United Kingdom. paul.busch@york.ac.uk

Physical Review Letters

|April 8, 2011

Summary

Accurate quantum position measurements are fundamentally limited when momentum is conserved. This extends the Wigner-Araki-Yanase theorem, requiring significant apparatus momentum uncertainty for practical feasibility.

More Related Videos

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Published on: July 26, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb

Published on: August 30, 2016

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Published on: July 26, 2022

Area of Science:

Quantum mechanics
Quantum measurement theory

Background:

The Wigner-Araki-Yanase (WAY) theorem addresses limitations in quantum measurements.
Conservation laws, particularly momentum conservation, impose constraints on measurement precision.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and present a fundamental limitation in measuring the position of a quantum object.
To extend the scope of the WAY theorem concerning measurement limitations.

Main Methods:

Theoretical analysis of quantum measurement under momentum conservation.
Extension of the Wigner-Araki-Yanase formalism.

Main Results:

A previously unrecognized fundamental limitation exists for position measurements.
Accurate position determination necessitates a substantial momentum uncertainty in the measurement apparatus.

Conclusions:

The study reveals a critical trade-off between position accuracy and momentum conservation in quantum systems.
Practical quantum position measurements require careful consideration of apparatus momentum properties to overcome inherent limitations.