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: 46

Answer

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ We are given that $$ \Delta f \Delta t \approx 1 \tag 1$$ for a wave packet, which represents the time-frequency uncertainty principle. For a photon, the energy $ E $ and frequency $ f $ are related by: $$ E = h f $$ Thus, $$ \Delta E = h \Delta f $$ Solving for $\Delta f$; $$\Delta f=\dfrac{ \Delta E}{h}$$ Plugging into (1); $$ \dfrac{ \Delta E}{h}\Delta t \approx 1 $$ $$ \boxed{\Delta E \Delta t \approx h }$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ The formula of $ \Delta E \Delta t \approx h $ tells us that there is an inherent uncertainty in the energy of the photon and the time it takes for the photon to be emitted or absorbed. If $ \Delta t $ is large, then the uncertainty in the energy $ \Delta E $ will be small. And if $ \Delta t $ is small, then the uncertainty in the energy $ \Delta E $ will be large. $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ The uncertainty of the photon's energy is given by the boxed formula above, $$ \Delta E \approx \frac{h}{\Delta t} $$ Plug the known; $$ \Delta E = \dfrac{6.626 \times 10^{-34}}{10 \times 10^{-9}} $$ $$\Delta E= 6.626 \times 10^{-26} \; \rm{J} =\color{red}{\bf 4.14 \times 10^{-7}} \; \rm{eV} $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [d]}$$ We are given that the wavelength of the emitted photon $ \lambda = 500 \; \rm{nm} $. And we know that the photon's energy is given by $$ E = \frac{hc}{\lambda} $$ Plug the known; $$ E = \frac{(6.626\times 10^{-34})(3.0 \times 10^8)}{500 \times 10^{-9}} = \bf 3.9756 \times 10^{-19} \; \rm{J} $$ The fractional uncertainty is the ratio of the uncertainty in energy to the actual energy: $$ \dfrac{\Delta E}{E} =\dfrac{6.626 \times 10^{-26} }{3.9756 \times 10^{-19}}=\color{red}{\bf 1.667\times 10^{-7}}$$
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