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MIT8 04S13 ps1 PDF
MIT8 04S13 ps1 PDF
February 5, 2013
Problem Set 1
Due Tuesday Feb 12 at 11.00AM
Readings:
E&R 1-(6,7)
2-(1,2,3,4,5)
Li.
1-(all)
2-(3,5,6)
Ga.
1-(2,3,4)
Sh.
3
(b) Using the typical size of an atom (1A) and a nucleus (1 fm), calculate how long
it would take for the electron to spiral into the proton.
(c) Compare the velocity of the electron (assuming an orbital radius of 0.5 A) to the
speed of light will relativistic corrections materially alter your conclusions?
(d) As the electron approaches the proton, what happens to its energy? Is there a
minimum value of the energy the electron can have?
This system has been studied experimentally using neutrons in: Quantum states of neurons in the
Earths gravitational Field, V. V. Nesvizhevsky et al., Nature 415, 297 (2002).
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