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Set 2

This document is a problem set for a quantum mechanics course consisting of 7 problems related to wavefunctions, the Schrodinger equation, and probability. The first problem asks the student to calculate the probability of finding a particle within a certain range given its wavefunction. The second problem involves normalizing a wavefunction and calculating expectation values and probabilities. The third problem asks the student to normalize a wavefunction, find its nodes, and calculate expectation values and a probability. The fourth problem asks the student to normalize a wavefunction and calculate expectation values. The fifth problem similarly asks the student to normalize a wavefunction, find expectation values, uncertainties, and check consistency with the uncertainty principle. The sixth problem asks the student to use the time

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Johann Alexandria Hugh
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58 views2 pages

Set 2

This document is a problem set for a quantum mechanics course consisting of 7 problems related to wavefunctions, the Schrodinger equation, and probability. The first problem asks the student to calculate the probability of finding a particle within a certain range given its wavefunction. The second problem involves normalizing a wavefunction and calculating expectation values and probabilities. The third problem asks the student to normalize a wavefunction, find its nodes, and calculate expectation values and a probability. The fourth problem asks the student to normalize a wavefunction and calculate expectation values. The fifth problem similarly asks the student to normalize a wavefunction, find expectation values, uncertainties, and check consistency with the uncertainty principle. The sixth problem asks the student to use the time

Uploaded by

Johann Alexandria Hugh
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Problem Set #2

Due: September 8th, 2017 Physics 403: Quantum Mechanics

The Wavefunction

1. The wavefunction for a particle at some point in time is given by


r
a
ψ(x) = ,
π(x + b2 )
2

where a and b are positive, real constants. If the position of the particle is
measured at this point in time, what is the probability that it will be found
in the range −b < x < b ?

2. At time t = 0 a particle is represented by the wavefunction



x

A a , 0 ≤ x ≤ a

Ψ(x, 0) = A b−x b−a
, a<x≤b

0, elsewhere.

a) Normalize and sketch the wavefunction Ψ(x, 0).


b) Where is the particle most likely to be found at t = 0?
c) What is the probability of finding the particle to the right of point a?
d) Determine the expectation values of x and x2 .

3. At time t = 0 the wavefunction for a particle that is confined to the region


0 ≤ x ≤ 2π
a
is given by
 π
Ψ(x, 0) = Ax x − sin(ax),
a
where A and a are real constants.

a) What are the units of A and a?


b) Normalize and sketch the wavefunction Ψ(x, 0). How many nodes does
the wavefunction have?
c) Calculate hxi, hx2 i, and σx at t = 0.
d) What is the probability of finding the particle between the first two nodes?
4. Normalize the following wavefunction and calculate hxi, hx2 i, and σx

Ψ(x, t) = Ae−λ|x|−iωt .

5. At time t = 0 a particle is represented by the wavefunction


( 
A a2 − x2 , −a ≤ x ≤ a
Ψ(x, 0) =
0, elsewhere.

a) Normalize and sketch the wavefunction Ψ(x, 0).


b) Calculate hxi and hx2 i at t = 0.
c) Calculate hpi and hp2 i at t = 0.
d) Determine the uncertainties in x and p (i.e. calculate σx and σp ).
e) Is the result consistent with the uncertainty principle?

The Schrödinger Equation

6. Use the time-dependant Schrödinger equation to prove the following rela-


tionship:  
dhpi ∂V
= − .
dt ∂x
What is the significance of this result?

Probability

7. A needle of length ` is dropped at random on a floor uniformly tiled by


rectangles whose sides have length a and width b. Determine the probability
that the needle will land entirely within one of the rectangles so that it does
not overlap the boundaries of any tile. You may assume that ` < a, b.

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