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: 14

Answer

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ We know that the area under the probability density curve is 1. And we have here a triangle whose area is given by $$A=\frac{1}{2}ba$$ where $b$ is the base length and $a$ is its height (usually we use h for height but we used a here to match the unknown). Hence, $$a=\dfrac{2A}{b}=\dfrac{2(1)}{4}=\color{red}{\bf 0.5}\;\rm nm^{-1}$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ We know that the graph of $\psi(x)$ is the square root of $|\psi(x)|^2$. This means that the maximum point on $|\psi(x)|^2$-graph, which is $a=0.5$, will be $=\frac{1}{\sqrt2}\approx 0.707$ at $x=0$. Now what about the point at $x=1$ at which $|\psi(x)|^2=0.25$? it will be the square root as well, $\psi(x)=\frac{1}{2}$ The two possible graphs are shown below. $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ We know that the probability of detecting an electron is given by $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x)=P(x)\delta x =\text{Area under the curve}$$ So, $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } 1\leq x\leq 2 ) = \frac{1}{2}\frac{a}{2}b$$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } 1\leq x\leq 2 ) = \frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{0.5}{2}\cdot (2-1)=\color{red}{\bf 0.125}$$
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