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 1176: 26

Answer

a) $0\%$ b) $2\%$ c) $\approx 25\%$

Work Step by Step

We know that the probability of detecting a particle in a region of $\delta x$ is given by $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x)=P(x)\delta x =\dfrac{\delta x}{x}$$ Our particle here is a sphere that goes back and forth on a 100-mm track. This means that the center of this sphere, which has a radius of 0.5 mm, is limited to the range of ${\rm 0.50\; mm }\leq x\leq {\rm 99.5\; mm}$. Thus, its total range is 99 mm. $$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ So, the probability of finding the sphere's center at exactly $x=0.5$ mm is finding it in a region of $\delta x=0$. Thus, $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x=0 \text{ at } x=0.5{ \rm \;mm})=P(x)(0) =\dfrac{0}{x}=\color{red}{\bf 0=0\%}$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } {\rm 49\; mm }\leq x\leq {\rm 51\; mm}) =\dfrac{51-49}{99}$$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } {\rm 49\; mm }\leq x\leq {\rm 51\; mm})=\color{red}{\bf 0.0202=2.0\%}$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x \geq{\rm 75\; mm } ) =\dfrac{99.5-75}{99}$$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } {\rm 49\; mm }\leq x\leq {\rm 51\; mm})=\color{red}{\bf 0.247=24.7\%}$$
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