Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 39 - Wave Functions and Uncertainty - Exercises and Problems - Page 1175: 12

Answer

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ The problem describes an interference pattern where the most intense fringe (peak) occurs at $x = 7.0 \; \rm{cm} $. - There are slightly weaker fringes at $x = 6.0 \; \rm{cm} $ and $x = 8.0 \; \rm{cm} $. - There are still weaker fringes at $x = 4.0 \; \rm{cm} $ and $x = 10.0 \; \rm{cm} $. - There are two very weak fringes at $x = 1.0 \; \rm{cm} $ and $x = 13.0 \; \rm{cm} $. - No electrons are detected for $x \lt 0 \; \rm{cm} $ or $x \gt 14 \; \rm{cm} $. From all the above, we can draw the graph of $|\psi(x)|^2 $ as shown in the first figure below. $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ - The wave function $\psi(x) $ is related to the square root of the probability density $|\psi(x)|^2 $. - The graph of $\psi(x) $ will oscillate between positive and negative values, with its amplitude corresponding to the peaks in $|\psi(x)|^2 $. - The highest amplitude will be at $x = 7.0 \; \rm{cm} $, with smaller oscillations at $x = 6.0 \; \rm{cm} $, $x = 8.0 \; \rm{cm} $, and weaker ones at other fringe locations. From all the above, we can draw the graph of $|\psi(x)| $ as shown in the second figure below. $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ The other possible graph for $\psi(x) $ is $-\psi(x) $ (the negative of it) since that will not affect the original function of $|\psi(x)|^2 $. From all the above, we can draw the second version of the graph of $|\psi(x)| $ as shown in the third figure below (which is the same second graph but rotated 180$^\circ$).
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