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: 36

Answer

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Work Step by Step

$$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ We know that the classical probability density is given by $$ P_{\text{class}}(x) = \frac{2}{T v_{(x)} }\tag 1 $$ Where $ T $ is the period of the oscillator, and $ v_{(x)} $ is the velocity of the oscillator. For a simple harmonic oscillator, the period $ T $ is given by $$ T = \frac{2 \pi}{\omega}\tag 2 $$ Substitute (2) into (1); $$ P_{\text{class}}(x) = \frac{\omega}{\pi \;v_{(x)} }\tag 3 $$ The velocity of a harmonic oscillator can be derived from the conservation of energy. Recalling that the total mechanical energy $ E $ of a harmonic oscillator is given by $$ E = \frac{1}{2} k A^2 = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 + \frac{1}{2} k x^2 $$ Solving for $v_{(x)} $, $$ v_{(x)} =\sqrt{\dfrac{k (A^2 - x^2)}{m}} $$ where $\omega = \sqrt{k/m}$, so $k=m\omega^2$ $$ v_{(x)} =\sqrt{\dfrac{m\omega^2 (A^2 - x^2)}{m}} $$ $$ v_{(x)} =\omega\sqrt{ (A^2 - x^2)} $$ Substituting into (3) $$ P_{\text{class}}(x) = \frac{\omega}{\pi \omega \sqrt{A^2 - x^2}} $$ $$ \boxed{P_{\text{class}}(x) = \frac{1}{\pi \sqrt{A^2 - x^2}}} $$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ See the graph below. $$\color{blue}{\bf [c]}$$ The probability density is highest near the turning points $ x = \pm A $, where the oscillator spends more time due to its slower velocity. Conversely, the probability density is lowest near the center $ x = 0 $, where the oscillator moves the fastest and spends the least amount of time.
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