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: 31

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ Since the electrons are uniformly distributed over the interval $(0\leq x\leq 2)$, in cm, with no electrons falling outside, the graph of $|\psi(x)|^2$ must be a rectangle. And since the area under the graph of $|\psi(x)|^2$ must be 1, the height of this rectangle is given by $$A=bh$$ where $b$ is the width in the $x$-direction and $h$ is the height in the $y$-direction. $$h=\dfrac{A}{b}=\dfrac{1}{2}=\bf 0.5\;\rm cm^{-1}$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ We know that the probability of detecting a particle in a region of $\delta x$ is given by $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x)=P(x)\delta x =|\psi(x)|^2\delta x$$ Plug the known; $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x\text{ at } 0.8{\;\rm cm})= |\psi(0.8)|^2(0.81-0.79)$$ where $\delta x=0.81-0.79=0.02$ cm, $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x\text{ at } 0.8{\;\rm cm})= (0.5)(0.02)=0.01=\color{red}{\bf 1.0}\%$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ Recalling that $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x)=\dfrac{N}{N_{tot}}$$ where $N$ is the number of detected electrons while $N_{tot}$ is the total number of electron. Thus, $$N=N_{tot}\cdot \text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x\text{ at } 0.8{\;\rm cm})$$ Plug the known $$N=(10^6)(0.01)=\color{red}{\bf 10^4}\;\rm electron$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [d]}$$ The probability density is at $x=0.8$ cm is given by $$P(x)=|\psi(x)|^2$$ $$P(0.8)=|\psi(0.8)|^2=\color{red}{\bf 0.5}\;\rm cm^{-1}$$
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