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: 23

Answer

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Work Step by Step

This is a case involving the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which relates the uncertainty in position $\Delta x $ and the uncertainty in momentum $\Delta p_x $ where $$ \Delta x \cdot \Delta p_x \geq \frac{h}{2}\tag 1 $$ According to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, Andrea's position uncertainty inside the room could be as large as the room's length. So, $$\Delta x=5\;\rm m\tag 2$$ The uncertainty in Andrea's velocity $\Delta v_x $ can be found by $$ \Delta p_x = m \Delta v_x $$ Plug into (1); $$m \Delta v_x\geq \frac{h}{2 \Delta x} $$ Hence, $$ \Delta v_x \geq \frac{h}{2m_e \Delta x} $$ Plug the known; $$ \Delta v_x \geq \frac{(6.63\times 10^{-34})}{2(50) (5)}=\bf 1.33\times 10^{-36}\;\rm m/s $$ And since her average velocity is zero, her velocity range is then $$\boxed{-6.6\times 10^{-37}\;{\rm m/s}\leq 6.6\times 10^{-37}\leq \;{\rm m/s}}$$
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