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 40 - One-Dimensional Quantum Mechanics - Exercises and Problems - Page 1212: 1

Answer

${\bf 0.739}\;\rm nm$

Work Step by Step

For an electron in a one-dimensional box of length $ L $, the energy levels are quantized and given by $$ E_n = \frac{n^2 h^2}{8mL^2} \tag1 $$ where $ n $ is the quantum number (integer), $ h $ is Planck's constant, $ m $ is the mass of the electron, $ L $ is the length of the box. Now we need to find the energy difference corresponding to the absorption which is the energy of the absorbed photon. Assuming that the transition is from $n=1$ to $n=2$ since the absorption occurs from the ground level $n=1$. $$ E_{\rm photon}=\Delta E_{\rm rlrctron} = E_2 - E_1$$ $$ \frac{hc}{\lambda} = \frac{2^2h^2}{8mL^2} - \frac{1^2\cdot h^2}{8mL^2} = \frac{3h^2}{8mL^2}$$ Solving for $L$; $$ L^2 = \frac{3h\lambda}{8mc} $$ $$ L =\sqrt{ \frac{3h\lambda}{8mc} }$$ Substitute the known: $$ L = \sqrt{\frac{3 \times (6.63 \times 10^{-34}) \times (600 \times 10^{-9})}{8 (9.11 \times 10^{-31}) (3.00 \times 10^8)} }$$ $$L=\bf 7.388\times10^{-10}\;\rm m=\color{red}{\bf 0.739}\;\rm nm$$
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