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: 3

Answer

$1.0\;\rm nm$

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. Solving for $L$; $$ L^2 = \frac{n^2 h^2}{8mE_n} $$ $$ L = \frac{n h }{ \sqrt{8mE_n} }$$ We can see from the given graph that $n=4$, so $$ L = \frac{4 h }{ \sqrt{8mE_4} }$$ Substitute the known: $$ L = \frac{4 (6.63 \times 10^{-34}) }{ \sqrt{8 (9.11 \times 10^{-31}) (6\times 1.6\times 10^{-19})} }$$ $$L=\bf 1.002\times10^{-9}\;\rm m=\color{red}{\bf 1.0}\;\rm nm$$
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