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Wave Function and Probability

This document contains the answer key for an assessment on wave functions and probability in chemistry. It defines the complex conjugate, lists the requirements for an acceptable wavefunction, and evaluates whether given functions meet those requirements over specified intervals. It also considers normalizing wavefunctions and calculating probabilities based on a normalized wavefunction over a one-dimensional region.

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Tushar Ghosh
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57 views3 pages

Wave Function and Probability

This document contains the answer key for an assessment on wave functions and probability in chemistry. It defines the complex conjugate, lists the requirements for an acceptable wavefunction, and evaluates whether given functions meet those requirements over specified intervals. It also considers normalizing wavefunctions and calculating probabilities based on a normalized wavefunction over a one-dimensional region.

Uploaded by

Tushar Ghosh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHEM106: Assessment 4

Wave Functions and Probability


Answer Key

1. Define the complex conjugate of the following functions.

The complex conjugate for a complex number Z = a + ib is defined as Z* = a  ib. In


general, to find the complex conjugate of any function, all we need to do is to
reverse the sign of the imaginary component.

A. Z *  3  ib
B. f * ( x )  eix
C. f * ( x)  sin( 2 x ) , noticing that for a real function, f * ( x)  f ( x)

2. What are the requirements for an acceptable wavefunction?


Since  2   *  represents the probability density for finding the particle, the
wavefunction  itself must meet the following requirements: (1) finite (or
quadratically integrable); (2) single valued; and (3) continuous.

3. Which of the following is an acceptable wave function over the indicated interval?

1
A. with 0  x  
x
1
is not an acceptable wavefunction since it approaches infinity as x = 0.
x

B. 2cos(x) with -¥ £ x £ 0
2cos(x) is an acceptable wavefunction since it meets all three requirements listed
in question 2 in the specified domain.

C. e  x with    x  
e  x is not an acceptable wavefunction since it approaches infinity as
x approaches   .

4. Which of the following functions are normalizable over the indicated intervals?
Normalize those functions that can be normalized. (Hint: In normalizing
wavefunctions, the integration is over all space in which the wave function is
defined.)

A. f ( )  e i 0    2
The function is finite everywhere, and thus normalizable.
2 2 2
2
Given M  f ( ) f ( )d   e i e i d   d   0  2 ,
*

0 0 0

1
the normalization constant is .
M
1 i
Thus, the normalized function is f N ( )  e .
2

B. f ( x)  e2 x with    x  
The function f ( x)  e2 x is infinite at x   , and thus not normalizable.

2
C. f ( x )  sin( x ) with 0  x  L
L
The function is finite everywhere, and thus normalizable.
2 2 2
L L L
Given M   f * ( x ) f ( x )d x   sin( x ) sin( x )d x   sin 2 ( x )d x ,
0 0
L L 0
L
1 1
look up the integration table, and find that  sin 2 (x )d x  x sin( 2x ) .
2 4
1 L 4 L L 4 L
Thus, M  x   L)  sin( 0)]  .
L
sin( x) [sin(
2 8 L 0
2 8 L 2
1
The normalization constant is .
M
2 2
Thus, the normalized function is f N ( x )  sin( x) .
L L

1 3
5. Consider the following normalized wavefunction  ( x )  cos( x ) , for a one-
L 2L
dimensional system confined in the region  L  x  L .

A. Calculate the probability that the particle will be found in the region between x = 0 Commented [SF1]: Is the == below correct? Should there be
two = here?
and x = L/2.
3
L/2 L/2
1
P   * ( x ) ( x )d x   cos2 ( x )d x
0
L 0
2L
1 1
 cos (x)d x  2 x  4 sin( 2x) .
2
Look up the integration table, and find that

6 6 L
L/2
1 1 2L 1 L 2L
P [ x sin( x )]  {  [sin( )  0]}
L 2 12 2L L 4 12 2L 2
Thus, 0 .
1 1
  ( 1)  0.197
4 6
B. Determine the probability that the particle will not be located in the region
between x = 0 and x = L/2.
The probability in case B and that in case A above should add up to 100%.

Thus, P = 1  0.197 = 0.803.

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