The more general uncertainty principle, regarding Fourier transforms

Why HN readers recommended it

HN recommends it as the clearest visual explanation that uncertainty is intrinsic to waves, separate from measurement disturbance.

This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.

Video & recommendation details

Creator / channel

3Blue1Brown

Topic

fourier uncertainty principle

Format

explainer

Level

intermediate

HN recommenders in dataset

7

HN mentions in dataset

11

Recommendation years in dataset

2019–2025

These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.

From the original HN conversations

Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.

• The clearest, most intuitive explanation of the Fourier Uncertainty Principle that I have come across is by Grant Sanderson of 3Blue1Brown. [VIDEO]

• 3Blue1Brown has an extremely good explanation[1] of the intrinsic uncertainty, and why it's separate from measurement uncertainty. (the previous episode[2] is a recommended prerequisite for background on how the Fourier Transform works) > emerges through a different, as yet unknown, mechanism. In 3Blue1Bron's explanation[1], he …

• The 'measuring something disturbs it' idea described above is called the observer effect [LINK] The observer effect is a real thing, and even has interesting effects in quantum mechanics, e.g. the quantum zeno effect [LINK] Yet the observer effect is not the reason why we …