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Trouble with these questions or other course work? Remember the resources available to help you: the textbook - your #1 reference from the unit WebCT page: Unit and Module outlines Lecture notes Assignment solutions Physics resources for each module Multiple Choice Questions Sample and Past Examination papers and more. ask your lecturer, tutor or fellow students on the WebCT discussion forum consult the Duty Tutor (12 to 2, four days per week, Room 201) Physics Student Office, Room 202 University Student Services
Assignment Questions
The de Broglie Relation
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Learning Goal: To understand de Broglie waves and the calculation of wave properties. In 1924, Louis de Broglie postulated that particles such as electrons and protons might exhibit wavelike properties. His thinking was guided by the notion that light has both wave and particle characteristics, so he postulated that particles such , where as electrons and protons would obey the same wavelength-momentum relation as that obeyed by light: is the wavelength, Part A Find the de Broglie wavelength for an electron moving at a speed of . . (Note that this speed is low the momentum, and Planck's constant.
Part B Find the de Broglie wavelength . Express your answer in meters to three significant figures ANSWER: = 1.051034 of a baseball pitched at a speed of 44.0 . Assume that the mass of the baseball is
baseball is too small for you to hope to see diffraction or interference effects during a baseball game. Part C Consider a beam of electrons in a vacuum, passing through a very narrow slit of width . The electrons then head toward an array of detectors a distance 0.9000 away. These detectors indicate a diffraction pattern, with a broad maximum of electron intensity (i.e., the number of electrons received in a certain area over a certain period of time) from the center of the pattern. What is the with minima of electron intensity on either side, spaced 0.529 wavelength of one of the electrons in this beam? Recall that the location of the first intensity minima in a single slit diffraction pattern for light is , where is the distance to the screen (detector) and is the width of the slit. The derivation of this formula was based entirely upon the wave nature of light, so by de Broglie's hypothesis it will also apply to the case of electron waves. Express your answer in meters to three significant figures. ANSWER: = 1.18108
Express your answer in kilogram-meters per second to three significant figures. ANSWER: = 5.641026
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This is much smaller than the usual momentum of electrons used for standard diffraction experiments or electron microscopy. Correspondingly, the wavelength that you found in Part C is much larger than that of these electrons. In order to observe the wave nature of the electron, you need to work at scales similar to or smaller than the diameter of an atom. The momentum that you found in Part C could be given to an electron by accelerating it . Electron microscopes frequently use accelerating voltages on the through a potential difference of around order of tens of kilovolts, yielding wavelengths roughly one thousand times smaller.
considered a wave with a very well determined position. However, any notion of wavelength for such a wave seems strange. A wave like the one shown in the second figure can be built up by adding together waves with different wavelengths. and , are added together, a wave with a beat frequency of Recall that if two waves with similar frequencies, is produced . This gives a wave with somewhat well-defined position and wavelength. If you add contributions from all of and , then you get a wave the frequencies between packet, which looks essentially like a single isolated beat cycle. In this problem, you will consider such a wave packet as
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simply being one beat cycle of this wave. While not exactly correct, this will give a useful approxmation. Let the distance between the two nodes of the wave be the uncertainty in position by , and the wave travels at speed , the uncertainty in position is given by . Part A The de Broglie relation is defined by and . , , , and . can be rewritten in terms of the wave number . Using the fact that , find the wave numbers as and . Recall that wave number corresponding to frequencies . Since the beat frequency is given
Part B Find an expression for the uncertainty in the wave number. Use your results from Part A.
Part C What is the value of the product ? Use to find the uncertainty in the momentum of the particle.
Express your answer in terms of quantities given in Part A and fundamental constants. ANSWER: =
This gives you the general idea of what the uncertainty principle states mathematically. The product of the uncertainties in the momentum and position of a particle is on the order of Planck's constant. By looking more . The rigorously at the definition of the uncertainty, the uncertainty principle is found to state that greater-than-or-equal-to sign indicates that some less than ideal waveforms have greater uncertainty that the minimum value of .
Part D In an atom, an electron is confined to a space of roughly electron's position, what is the minimum uncertainty meters. If we take this to be the uncertainty in the in its momentum?
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Express your answer in kilogram meters per second to two significant figures. ANSWER: = 1.051024
Part E What is the kinetic energy of an electron with momentum kilogram meters per second?
Express your answer in electron volts to two significant figures. ANSWER: = 3.8
Notice that this energy is similar to the energy scale for electrons in an atom, which typically ranges from a bit less than an electron volt up to a few dozen electron volts. A good estimate for the energy scale of a particle can often be found by calculating the energy the particle would have if you set the momentum equal to the minimum uncertainty in momentum. The justification for this sort of estimation lies in the rigorous statistical definition of the uncertainty; it is sufficient now for you to know that this will give a reasonably good order-of-magnitude estimate of the energy for a variety of quantum systems. Part F Suppose that you know the position of a 100-gram pebble to within the width of an atomic nucleus ( meters). What is the minimum uncertainty in the momentum of the pebble? Express your answer in kilogram meters per second to one significant figure. ANSWER: = 1.01019
tiny values are the reason that you are unaware of the uncertainty principle in everyday situations. In practice, it would be impossible to measure the position of a pebble to such accuracy, much less its speed.
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ANSWER:
= 2.101020
Part B The uncertainty sets a lower bound on the average momentum of a particle in the nucleus. If a particle's average momentum were to fall below that point, then the uncertainty principle would be violated. Since the uncertainty kilogram-meters per second as principle is a fundamental law of physics, this cannot happen. Using the minimum momentum of a particle in the nucleus, find the minimum kinetic energy of the particle. Use
kilograms as the mass of the particle. Note that since our calculations are so rough, this serves as the mass of a neutron or a proton. Hint B.1 Choosing the kinetic energy formula Hint not displayed Express your answer in millions of electron volts to two significant figures. ANSWER: = 0.81
Compare this to the normal energy scale for electrons in an atom, which is on the order of single electron volts. The characteristic energy scale for the nucleus seems to be roughly one million times that for electrons in an atom. This difference can be seen in calculations of the energy output per unit mass from coal-burning power plants, which utilize chemical energy (energy associated with the electrons of an atom) compared to the energy output from nuclear reactors (power plants that harness the much higher energies of nuclei).
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Part C Determine the electron's kinetic energy in electron volts. Hint C.1 The relation between electron volts and joules Hint not displayed Express your answer in electron volts to three significant figures. ANSWER: = 18.6
Part A.2
Part A.3
Find how the FWHM varies with respect to Part not displayed
ANSWER:
The particle's uncertainty in position will decrease. The particle's uncertainty in position will increase. There is no effect on the particle's uncertainty in position.
Part B If the value of Hint B.1 is increased, what effect does this have on the particle's uncertainty in momentum?
ANSWER:
The particle's uncertainty in momentum will decrease. The particle's uncertainty in momentum will increase. There is no effect on the particle's uncertainty in momentum.
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where
(i.e.,
).
, solving the Schrdinger equation allows you to determine the particle wave
functions. Finding solutions to the Schrdinger equation, for most potentials, is beyond the scope of introductory physics. However, you are able to check a solution, once it is presented to you. You will do this for the simple case of the particle in a box. The quantum mechanical particle in a box has a particularly simple potential energy function. Although it does have some real-world applications, the particle in a box is also important as an illustration of many key concepts from quantum mechanics. Consider a particle in a potential well with infinitely high walls. The potential energy function is formally written as
where
is a solution to the Schrdinger equation for the particle in a box. You will prove this and calculate the . is a mathematical solution to any Schrdinger equation, so the .
By inspection, you should be able to see that functions Part A Consider the interval interval? Express your answer in terms of ANSWER: , , , and
in this
Part C
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is an as yet undetermined constant: the energy of the particle. What is Express your answer in terms of ANSWER: = , , , and .
in the interval
Part D Combine your answers from Parts A and B. Find the expression for the left side of the Schrdinger equation valid on the interval . Express your answer in terms of ANSWER: , , , , , and .
This entire expression is just side of the equation to be constants are equal,
multipled by a positive constant. Since you have already found the right multiplied by a positive constant ( ), you have proven that, if the two
is a mathematical solution to the Schrdinger equation for the particle in a box. You
will soon determine if it is also a physical solution. Part E Combine your answers from Parts C and D to find the value of Express your answer in terms of ANSWER: = , , , and . , the energy of a particle with wave function .
Even in the simple case of the particle in a box, one of the main ideas of quantum theory--the quantization of energy--may be seen in the discrete allowed energy levels: .
In this context, you can see how the quantization of energy is a natural consequence of applying the boundary conditions to solutions of the Schrdinger equation. Part F For a solution to be a physical solution, it must satisfy several criteria. First, it must be continuous everywhere. Second, it must have a continuous derivative everywhere, except for points where the potential energy becomes infinite (as it does at the walls of the box). Finally, it must be normalizable. In this case, you can check the first criterion by noting that the two functions that they have the same value at and , where their domains meet. and 0. Both derivatives are continuous and 0 are continuous and
functions in their domains. The points where the domains meet are exactly the points where the potential energy becomes infinite, so you don't have to check for continuity there.
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such that .
Since
Use this equation to find the unique positive value of Part F.1 Evaluate the integral
Find the wavelength in terms of energy of a photon in terms of the photon's energy , where . Recall that photons are described by the , is the angular frequency, is the and is Planck's constant divided by
, , and .
Find the energy of the photon of the state for the electron and the energy of the
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Part B The retinal molecule has 12 electrons that are free to move about the chain. For reasons that you may learn later, these 12 electons fill the first 6 states of the box (with 2 electrons in each state). Thus, the lowest energy photon that can be absorbed by this molecule would be the one that moves an electron from the 6th state to the 7th. Use the equation that you found in Part A to determine the wavelength of this photon. Use the length of the retinal molecule given in the introduction as the length of the box and use for the mass of the electron. Express your answer in nanometers to two significant figures.
ANSWER:
= 570
A photon with this wavelength lies in the green part of the spectrum. Part C In a human eye, there are three types of cones that allow us to see colors. The three different types are most sensitive to red, green, and blue light, respectively. All three contain retinal bonded to a large protein. The way that retinal bonds to the protein can change the length of the potential well within which the electrons are confined. How would the length have to change from that given in the introduction to make the molecule more sensitive to blue or red light? Hint C.1 Comparing wavelengths Hint not displayed ANSWER:
The molecule would have to be shorter to be more sensitive to both red and blue light. The molecule would have to be shorter to be more sensitive to red light and longer to be more sensitive to blue light. The molecule would have to be longer to be more sensitive to red light and shorter to be more sensitive to blue light. The molecule would have to be longer to be more sensitive to both red and blue light.
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Once retinal has absorbed a photon, it changes shape, initiating a cascade of effects that eventually creates a nerve impulse. This impulse gets fed to the brain, where it is processed along with the signals from all of the other light-sensing cells in the eye, allowing you to see.
The following questions are from the textbook and have no hints or other feedback.
Problem 40.34
A particle is in the ground level of a box that extends from Part A What is the probability of finding the particle in the region between 0 and , where is normalized, from to . ? Calculate this by integrating to .
ANSWER:
ANSWER:
Part C Add the probabilities calculated in parts (a) and (b). ANSWER: 0.500
Tutorial Questions
The following questions have been selected to allow you to use MasteringPhysics to build your Physics skills. They are for no credit but you are strongly encouraged to complete as many as possible. They can be done at any time, even after the assignment deadline. Named questions have full MasteringPhysics hints and feedback. Questions marked as 'Problem n.nn' are from the textbook and have no hints and other feedback. Chapter 39
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Hint A.2
Part B Part not displayed Part C What is the de Broglie wavelength Hint C.1 of the electron in the third ( ) Bohr energy level of the hydrogen atom?
Hint C.2
, ,
, and .
Part E In the previous parts, you saw that there is not equality between the de Broglie wavelength of an electron in the hydrogen atom and the circumference of its orbit. However, there does exist a definite relationship. What is the and the de Broglie wavelength ? relationship between the circumference of the orbit of the th energy level Part E.1 Find the Broglie wavelength for the th energy level. Part not displayed Part E.2 Find the orbital circumference at the th energy level in hydrogen
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Part A The x coordinate of an electron is measured with an uncertainty of expression for the uncertainty principle: , where is the uncertainty in the x coordinate of a particle, , where is Planck's constant. is the particle's uncertainty in the x component of . What is , the x component of the electron's is ? Use the following
momentum, and
Hint A.1
Part A.2
Express your answer in meters per second to three significant figures. ANSWER: = Answer not displayed
The energy-time uncertainty principle says that the longer a system remains in the same energy state, the higher the accuracy (or the smaller the uncertainty) a measurement of that energy can be. Another implication is that physical processes can violate the law of energy conservation as long as the violation occurs for only a short time, determined by the uncertainty principle. This idea is at the base of the theory of virtual particles. Part A Consider two electrons that interact with each other. Classically, their interaction would be described in terms of the electrostatic force. In quantum mechanics, their interaction is interpreted in terms of emission and absorption of , which is then absorbed by the other electron after a photons: One of the two electrons emits a photon with energy short period of time. How long can the photon survive before it is absorbed without violating the uncertainty principle? Hint A.1 How to approach the problem Hint not displayed
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, and
or .
Problem 39.3
Part A An electron moves with a speed of 5.60106 Use 6.631034 ANSWER: . What is its de Broglie wavelength? for the mass of an electron.
Part B A proton moves with the same speed. Determine its de Broglie wavelength. Use 1.671027 ANSWER: for the mass of a proton. Answer not displayed m
Problem 39.17
By extremely careful measurement, you determine the x-coordinate of a car's center of mass with an uncertainty of only . The car has a mass of . Part A What is the minimum uncertainty in the x-component of the velocity of the car's center of mass as prescribed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle? Use for Planck's constant. Answer not displayed
ANSWER:
Problem 39.19
A scientist has devised a new method of isolating individual particles. He claims that this method enables him to detect and its momentum simultaneously the position of a particle along an axis with a standard deviation of 0.170 component along this axis with a standard deviation of 3.201025 Part A .
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Use the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to evaluate the validity of this claim. ANSWER: Answer not displayed
Problem 39.27
Part A What is the de Broglie wavelength of an electron that has been accelerated from rest through a potential increase of 900 ? Use 6.631034 for Planck's constant, 9.111031 for the mass of an electron, and 1.601019 for the
Part B What is the de Broglie wavelength of a proton accelerated from rest through a potential decrease of 900 Use 1.671027 ANSWER: for the mass of a proton. Answer not displayed m ?
Chapter 40
where
is a positive number that measures the depth of the potential well and
graph of potential energy versus position, which shows why this is called the square-well potential. Inside the well (i.e., for ) the solutions take the form , where and form and and are constants
. Outside the well, the solutions take the , where and are constants
are called bound states, because classically the particle would be trapped in the potential well.
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Part A For a one-dimensional wave function to be normalizable, it must go to zero as Consider the wave function zero. What does this imply about the constants ANSWER: and in the region ? . As goes to infinity or negative infinity. goes to infinity, this must become
Notice that the wave function is nonzero in the entire domain by classical mechanics since between classical and quantum mechanics. Also notice that, since
, even though this region would be forbidden anywhere in the region, there
is some small, but nonzero, probability of finding the particle hundreds of kilometers away from the potential well. Part B Now, consider the wave function become zero. What does this imply about the constants ANSWER: in the region and . As goes to negative infinity, this must
Part C Part not displayed Part D Part not displayed Part E Part not displayed Part F Part not displayed Part G Part not displayed
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quantum mechanics predicts here. Throughout this problem, use Part A Let this oscillator have the same energy as a mass on a spring, with the same displacement of Hint A.1 Finding from equilibrium. What is the quantum number from and Hint not displayed Part A.2 Find Part not displayed Part A.3 Find the energy of the oscillator Part not displayed Express the quantum number to three significant figures. ANSWER: = Answer not displayed and , released from rest at a of the state of the harmonic oscillator? .
Problem 40.3
It takes Part A What is the width L of the box? Use for Planck's constant and Answer not displayed for the mass of an electron. of energy to excite an electron in a box from the ground level to the first excited level.
ANSWER:
Problem 40.5
A particle with mass of 5.50 Part A Classically, what is the kinetic energy of the particle if it has a speed of 1.70 ? is in a box with a width L.
ANSWER:
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Part B What is L if the ground state energy of the particle equals the kinetic energy calculated in part (A)? Use 6.631034 ANSWER: for Planck's constant. Answer not displayed m
Problem 40.8
Part A Find the excitation energy from the ground level to the third excited level for an electron confined to a box that has a width of . Use for Planck's constant and Answer not displayed for the mass of an electron.
ANSWER:
Part B The electron makes a transition from the n = 1 to n = 4 level by absorbing a photon. Calculate the wavelength of this photon. Use for the speed of light in a vacuum. Answer not displayed
ANSWER:
Problem 40.39
Photon in a Dye Laser. An electron in a long, organic molecule used in a dye laser behaves approximately like a particle . in a box with width 4.20 Part A What is the wavelength of the photon emitted when the electron undergoes a transition from the first excited level to the ground level? Use 3.00108 for the speed of light in a vacuum, 6.631034 for Planck's constant, and 9.111031
Part B What is the wavelength of the photon emitted when the electron undergoes a transition from the second excited level to the first excited level? ANSWER: Answer not displayed m
Further Questions
There are many more questions available at the end of every chapter of the textbook. Odd numbered problems have brief
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answers at the back of the book. Answers to all 'Exercises' and 'Problems' can be requested during lunch time Duty Tutor sessions.
Summary 8 of 21 items complete (37.86% avg. score) 39.76 of 40 points
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