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: 33

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ To determine whether the electron wave function is normalized, we calculate the area under the $|\psi(x)|^2$ curve. If it equals 1, the wave function is normalized; if not, it is not. $$A=2\left[\frac{1}{2}(1\;{\rm cm})(1\;{\rm cm^{-1}})\right]=1$$ Therefore, yes, it is normalized. $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ We know that the graph of $\psi(x)$ is the square root of $|\psi(x)|^2$. See the graph below. $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ $\bullet$ We know that the probability of detecting a particle in a region of $\delta x$ is given by $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x=0)=|\psi(0)|^2(0.001)=(0)(0.001)=\color{red}{\bf 0}\%$$ where at $x=0$, $|\psi(0)|^2=0$ as shown in the given graph. $\bullet$ At $x=0.5$ cm, we can see that $|\psi(0)|^2=0.5\;\rm cm^{-1}$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x=0.5{\;\rm cm}) =(0.5)(0.001)=\color{red}{\bf 5\times 10^{-4}}\%$$ $\bullet$ At $x=0.999$ cm, we can see that $|\psi(0)|^2=0.5\;\rm cm^{-1}$ $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x=0.999{\;\rm cm}) =(0.999)(0.001)=\color{red}{\bf 9.99\times 10^{-4}}\%$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ We know that $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } x=0) =\text{Area under the $|\psi(x)|^2$ curve}=\dfrac{N}{N_{tot}}$$ where $N$ is the number of detected electrons while $N_{tot}$ is the total number of electron. Thus, $$N=N_{tot}\cdot \text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x\;\text{ at }-0.3\;{\rm cm}\leq x \leq0.3{\;\rm cm})$$ Finding the area under the curve for the chosen region. $$N=N_{tot}A=N_{tot}\left[ 2\left(\frac{1}{2}bh\right)\right]$$ where $b$ is the width in the $x$-direction and $h$ is the height in the $y$-direction. Plug the known $$N=N_{tot}A=(10^4)\left[ 2\left(\frac{1}{2}(0.3)(0.3)\right)\right]$$ $$N=\color{red}{\bf 900}\;\rm electron$$
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