SOLUTION to QUIZ 1 Physics 324 Wed. Oct.

12, 2011

Answer all parts. For each part give an appropriate formula and when appropriate a numerical answer (1 signicant digit suces). 1) An electron of energy E = 190 eV has a de Broglie wavelength of about 0.9 A= 0.09 nm. What is the energy of a neutron of the same wavelength? Note: the neutron mass mn is about 1900 times that of an electron me . = h/p = h/(2mE )1/2 Thus for the same me E = mn En so En = 190 1/1900 = 0.1eV 2) The normalized wave-function of an electron in a square well of length a at time t = 0 is given by (x) = (2/a)1/2 sin(2x/a). Using Ehrenfests theorem and an explicit calculation of p , determine the average speed v = d x /dt of the wave at time t = 0. Ehrenfests theorem says that v = d x /dt = p /m and p = = i h (2/a) = i h (2/a) dx (x)(i hd/dx) (x) dx sin(2x/a)(d/dx) sin(2x/a) dx(1/2)(d/dx) sin2 (2x/a)
a 0

= i h (2/a)(1/2) sin2 (2x/a) so v =0

=00=0

3) Determine the uncertainty in the momentum p of the electron with the wave function (x) = (2/a)1/2 sin(2x/a). p2 = = h2 dx (x)(i hd/dx)2 (x) dx (x)(d/dx)2 (x) 1

= (1)2 h2 (2/a)

dx sin(2x/a)(2/a)2 sin(2x/a) = ( h2/a)2 p = | p2 p 2 | =h 2/a