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 1214: 34

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$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ We are given that: $$ b = \sqrt{\frac{\hbar}{m \omega}} $$ Where: - $ \hbar $ is the reduced Planck's constant with units of $ \rm{J} \cdot \rm{s} = \rm{kg} \cdot \rm{m}^2 / \rm{s}$ - $ m $ is the mass of the particle in kilograms ($ \rm{kg} $), - $ \omega $ is the angular frequency with units of $ \rm{s}^{-1} $ (inverse seconds). So the units of $ b $ are $$ \text{Units of}\;(b) = \sqrt{\frac{\rm{J} \cdot \rm{s}}{\rm{kg} \cdot \rm{s}^{-1}}} = \sqrt{\frac{\rm{kg} \cdot \rm{m}^2 / \rm{s}}{\rm{kg} / \rm{s}}} = \sqrt{\rm{m}^2} = \boxed{\rm{m}} $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ The classical turning point for a harmonic oscillator is the position where the potential energy $ U $ equals the total energy $ E $, meaning the kinetic energy $ K = 0 $. For a harmonic oscillator, the potential energy is: $$ U(x) = \frac{1}{2} k x^2 $$ At the classical turning point, the total energy $ E $ is equal to the potential energy. $$ E =U(x) = \frac{1}{2} k x_{\rm{tp}}^2\tag 1 $$ For the quantum harmonic oscillator in the $ n = 1 $ state, the total energy is. $$ E = \frac{1}{2} \hbar \omega\tag 2 $$ At the turning point, the potential energy is equal to the total energy. From (1) and (2); $$ \frac{1}{2} k x_{\rm{tp}}^2 = \frac{1}{2} \hbar \omega $$ Canceling out the $ \frac{1}{2} $ on both sides; $$ k x_{\rm{tp}}^2 = \hbar \omega $$ Solving for $ x_{\rm{tp}} $: $$ x_{\rm{tp}} = \pm \sqrt{\frac{\hbar \omega}{k}} $$ Recalling that $ k = m \omega^2$. Substituting this into the equation for $ x_{\rm{tp}} $. $$ x_{\rm{tp}} = \pm \sqrt{\frac{\hbar \omega}{m \omega^2}} = \pm \sqrt{\frac{\hbar}{m \omega}} $$ But this expression is just the definition of $ b $, so $$ \boxed{x_{\rm{tp}} = \pm\; b} $$
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