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 1177: 39

Answer

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ We know that the normalization condition requires that the total probability of finding the electron over the entire space is equal to 1. So, $$ \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} |\psi(x)|^2 \; dx = 1 $$ Since the wave function is 0 for $ |x| \geq 1 \; \text{cm} $, the integral only needs to be evaluated from $ x = -1 \; \text{cm} $ to $ x = 1 \; \text{cm} $ $$ \int_{-1}^{1} |c \sqrt{1 - x^2}|^2 \; dx = 1 $$ $$ c^2 \int_{-1}^{1} (1 - x^2) \; dx = 1$$ The integral can be split into two parts; $$c^2\left[ \int_{-1}^{1} 1 \; dx - \int_{-1}^{1} x^2 \; dx \right]=1$$ where $ \int_{-1}^{1} 1 \; dx = 2$, and $ \int_{-1}^{1} x^2 \; dx = \frac{2}{3}$ Thus, $$ c^2 \left[2 - \frac{2}{3} \right] = 1 $$ $$ c^2 \cdot \frac{4}{3} = 1 $$ $$ c^2 = \frac{3}{4} $$ Therefore, $$ c = \color{red}{\bf \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}\;\rm cm^{-1/2}$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ The wave function $ \psi(x) $ is given by $$ \psi(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sqrt{1 - x^2} & \text{for} \; |x| \leq 1 \; \text{cm} \\ 0 & \text{for} \; |x| > 1 \; \text{cm} \end{cases} $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ The probability density $ |\psi(x)|^2 $ is given by $$|\psi(x)|^2 = \begin{cases} \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \sqrt{1 - x^2} \right)^2 & \text{for} \; |x| \leq 1 \; \text{cm} \\ 0 & \text{for} \; |x| > 1 \; \text{cm} \end{cases} $$ Simplifying: $$ |\psi(x)|^2 = \frac{3}{4} (1 - x^2) \quad \text{for} \; |x| \leq 1 \; \text{cm} $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [d]}$$ We know that $$\text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } 0\leq x\leq 0.5) =\text{Area under the $|\psi(x)|^2$ curve}\\ =\dfrac{N}{N_{tot}}$$ where $N$ is the number of detected electrons while $N_{tot}$ is the total number of electron. Thus, $$N=N_{tot}\cdot \text{Prob}( \text{in } \delta x \text{ at } 0\leq x\leq 0.5) $$ $$N=N_{tot} \int_{0.00 \, \text{cm}}^{0.50 \, \text{cm}} |\psi(x)|^2 dx$$ $$N= \frac{3}{4}N_{tot} \int_0^{0.50} (1 - x^2) dx$$ $$N = \frac{3}{4}(10^5) \left[ x - \frac{x^3}{3} \right]_0^{0.50} $$ $$N=\color{red}{\bf 3437}\;\rm electron$$
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