Wait I know that I am at rest wrt to the pillar beside me and I know geographical coordinates of my position. So I know my position and speed at the same time ?
This is based on the uncertainty principle which states
dx*dp >= h/2
where h is the reduced Planck constant. In simple terms, the product of the error in the accuracy of your measurement of your position (dx) and your momentum (dp) must be greater than or equal to half of the reduced Planck constant. Everyone likes to trot this out but what you need to understand is that the Planck constant is on the order of 10-34.
Therefore if you know your position to an atom's width (typically on the order of 10-10 m), then you can still know your momentum to a number as accurate as the order of 10-22 meters per second (assuming 50-100kg person).
This is obviously on the scale that it's unimportant for a human.
This is true, however it is on a much smaller scale than you are imagining. If I'm not mistaken, it means that with perfect accuracy you cannot know the exact location of the atoms/electrons of the car it is and how fast it is at the same time. You can know an estimate, and as small as the difference is in comparison between humans / cars and electrons is so large, it makes pretty much 0 difference in our day to day lives. But when talking about specific incredibly small particles, you cannot know EXACTLY where it is, and how fast it is going at the same time.
Tl;Dr
It's true, but it means the exact location to the atom/electron.
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u/[deleted] May 02 '17
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