FIJI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering Science & Technology

School of Sciences, Department of Physics

PHY704 Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Physics

Assignment 2 on Wavelike Properties of Particles

1 An electron moves in the x direction with a speed of 3.6 × 106 m/s. We can measure its
speed to a precision of 1%. With what precision can we simultaneously measure its x
coordinate?

2. A charged pi meson has a rest energy of 140MeV and a lifetime of 26 ns. Find the energy
uncertainty of the pi meson, expressed in MeV and also as a fraction of its rest energy.

3. Estimate the minimum velocity that would be measured for a billiard ball (m ≈ 100 g)
confined to a billiard table of dimension 1 m.

4. In order to study the atomic nucleus, we would like to observe the diffraction of particles
whose de Broglie wavelength is about the same size as the nuclear diameter, about 14
fm for a heavy nucleus such as lead. What kinetic energy should we use if the diffracted
particles are (a) electrons? (b) Neutrons? (c) Alpha particles (m = 4u)?

5. The speed of an electron is measured to within an uncertainty of 2.0 × 104 m/s. What is
the size of the smallest region of space in which the electron can be confined?

6. Certain surface waves in a fluid travel with phase velocity b /  , where b is a constant.
Find the group velocity of a packet of surface waves, in terms of the phase velocity.