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Practice Problem Series

QUANTUM MECHANICS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

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[Date]
 1. 1000 neutral spinless particles are confined in a one-dimensional box of length
100 nm. At a given instant of time, if 100 of these particle have energy 4𝜖0 and the
remaining 900 have energy 225𝜖0 , then the number of particles in the left half of the
box will be approximately
(a) 625 (b) 500 (c) 441 (d) 100

2. The normalized wave function of an electron is

3 5
𝜓(𝑟⃗) = 𝑅(𝑟) [√ 𝑌10 (𝜃, 𝜑)𝜒− + √ 𝑌11 (𝜃, 𝜑)𝜒+ ]
8 8

where 𝑌𝑙𝑚 are the normalized spherical harmonics and 𝜒± denote the wavefunction
for the two spin states with eigenvalues
1
± ℎ
2
. The expectation value of the 𝑧 component of the total angular momentum in the
above state is
3 3 9 9
(a) − ℏ (b) ℏ (c) − ℏ (d) ℏ
4 4 8 8

3. Consider a quantum particle of mass 𝑚 moving in a potential

1 2( 2 2)
𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦) = {2 𝑚𝜔 𝑥 + 𝑦 , for 𝑥 > 0, 𝑦 > 0
∞, otherwise
what is the degeneracy of the energy state 9ℏ𝜔, where 𝜔 > 0 measures the strength
of the potential?
(a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 10 (d) 5

1
4. Consider 5 identical spin particles moving in a 3-dimensional harmonic oscillator
2

potential,
1 1
𝑉(𝑟) = 𝑚𝜔2 𝑟 2 = 𝑚𝜔2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )
2 2
The degeneracy of the ground state of the system is
(a) 32 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 20

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 5. The Hamiltonian of a two-dimensional quantum harmonic oscillator is
𝑝𝑥 2 𝑝𝑦 2 1
𝐻= + + 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑚𝜔2 𝑦 2
2𝑚 2𝑚 2
27
where 𝑚 and 𝜔 are positive constants. The degeneracy of the energy level ℏ𝜔 is
2

(a) 14 (b) 13 (c) 8 (d) 7

6. A particle with energy 𝐸 > 0 is incident from the right (𝑥 > 0) on a one-dimensional
potential composed of a delta-function barrier at 𝑥 = 0 and a hard wall at 𝑥 = −𝑎 :
𝛼𝛿(𝑥), 𝑥 > −𝑎
𝑉(𝑥) = {
∞, 𝑥 ≤ −𝑎
where 𝛼 > 0 and 𝑎 > 0. Let us define
2𝑚𝐸
𝜅2 =
ℏ2
and the dimensionless quantities: 𝜉 = 𝜅𝑎 and
ℏ2
𝛽=
2𝑚𝛼𝑎
For some energy 𝐸 the particle reflects from the barrier without any phase shift.
Which of the following transcendental equations determines this energy? [Note that
in the presence of the delta function barrier, the derivative of the wave function has
a discontinuity at
𝜓(0)
𝑥 = 0: 𝜓 ′ (0+ ) − 𝜓 ′ (0− ) = .]
𝛽𝑎
(a) tan 𝜉 = 𝛽𝜉 (b) tan 𝜉 = −𝛽𝜉

(c) 𝑡𝑎𝑛 ℎ 𝜉 = 𝛽𝜉 (d) 𝑡𝑎𝑛 ℎ 𝜉 = −𝛽𝜉

7. A pendulum executes small oscillations between angles +𝜃0 and −𝜃0 . If 𝜏(𝜃)𝑑𝜃 is
the time spent between 𝜃 and 𝜃 + 𝑑𝜃, then 𝜏(𝜃) is best represented by

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 8. Given that 𝜓1 and 𝜓2 are eigenstates of a Hamiltonian with eigenvalues 𝐸1 and 𝐸2
respectively, what is the energy uncertainty in the state (𝜓1 + 𝜓2 ) ?

1
(a) − √𝐸1 𝐸2 (b) |𝐸1 − 𝐸2 |
2

1 1
(c) (𝐸1 + 𝐸2 ) (d) |𝐸2 − 𝐸1 |
2 √2

9. A particle of mass 𝑚 is contained in a one-dimensional infinite well extending from

𝐿 𝐿
𝑥=− to 𝑥 =
2 2
The particle is in its ground state given by
𝜑0 (𝑥) = √2/𝐿cos (𝜋𝑥/𝐿)
The walls of the box are moved suddenly to form a box extending from 𝑥 = −𝐿 to
𝑥 = 𝐿. what is the probability that the particle will be in the ground state after this
sudden expansion?
(a) (8/3𝜋)2 (b) 0 (c) (16/3𝜋)2 (d) (4/3𝜋)2

10. A one-dimensional infinite square-well potential is given by:

𝑎 𝑎
𝑉(𝑥) = 0 for − < 𝑥 < +
2 2
= ∞ elsewhere
Let 𝐸𝑒 (𝑥) and 𝜓𝑒 (𝑥) be the ground state energy and the corresponding wave
function, respectively, if an electron (𝑒) is trapped in that well. Similarly, let 𝐸𝜇 (𝑥)
and 𝜓𝜇 (𝑥) be the corresponding quantities, if a muon (𝜇) is trapped in the well.
Choose the correct option:

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 11. For a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator, the creation operator (𝑎† ) acting on the
𝑛th state |𝜓𝑛 ⟩ where 𝑛 = 0,1,2, …, gives
𝑎† |𝜓𝑛 ⟩ = √𝑛 + 1|𝜓𝑛+1 ⟩
The matrix representation of the position operator

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 ℏ
𝑥=√ (𝑎 + 𝑎 † )
2𝑚𝜔

for the first three rows and columns is

1 0 0 0 1 0
ℏ ℏ
(a)√ (0 √2 0) (b)√ (1 0 1)
2𝑚𝜔 2𝑚𝜔
0 0 √3 0 1 0

0 1 0 1 0 √3
ℏ ℏ
(c)√ (1 0 √2) (d)√ (0 0 0)
2𝑚𝜔 2𝑚𝜔
0 √2 0 √3 0 1

12. Two distinguishable non-interacting particles, each of mass 𝑚 are in a one-

dimensional infinite square well in the interval [0, 𝑎]. If 𝑥1 and 𝑥2 are position
operators of the two particles, the expectation value ⟨𝑥1 𝑥2 ⟩ in the state in which one
particle is in the ground state and the other one is in the first excited state, is
1 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 2
(a) 𝑎2 (b) 𝜋 𝑎 (c) 𝑎 (d) 𝜋 𝑎
2 2 4 4

13. A particle of mass 𝑚, confined in a one-dimensional box between 𝑥 = −𝐿 and 𝑥 = 𝐿,

is in its first excited quantum state. Now, a rectangular potential barrier of height
𝑉(𝑥) = 1 and extending from 𝑥 = −𝑎 to 𝑥 = 𝑎 is suddenly switched on, as shown in
the figure below.

Which of the following curves most closely represents the resulting change in
average energy 𝛿⟨𝐸⟩ of the system when plotted as a function of 𝑎/𝐿, immediately
after the barrier is created?

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 14. Let 𝜓nlm denote the eigenstates of a hydrogen atom in the usual notation. The state
1
𝜓nlm = [2𝜓200 − 3𝜓211 + √7𝜓210 − √5𝜓21−1 ]
5
is an eigenstate of
(a) 𝐿2 , but not of the Hamiltonian or 𝐿𝑧

(b) the Hamiltonian, but not of 𝐿2 or 𝐿𝑧

(c) the Hamiltonian, 𝐿2 and 𝐿𝑧

(d) 𝐿2 and 𝐿𝑧 , but not of the Hamiltonian

15. The energy/energies 𝐸 of the bound state(s) of a particle of mass 𝑚 in one

∞, 𝑥 ≤ 0
dimension in the potential 𝑉(𝑥) = {−𝑉0 , 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎 (where 𝑉0 > 0 ) is/are
0, 𝑥≥𝑎
determined by

2𝑚(𝐸 + 𝑉0 ) 𝐸 − 𝑉0 2𝑚(𝐸 + 𝑉0 ) 𝐸
(a)cot 2 (𝑎√ ) = (b)tan2 (𝑎√ ) = −
ℏ2 𝐸 ℏ2 𝐸 + 𝑉0

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 2𝑚(𝐸 + 𝑉0 ) 𝐸 2𝑚(𝐸 + 𝑉0 ) 𝐸 − 𝑉0
(c)cot 2 (𝑎√ ) = − (d)tan2 (𝑎√ ) =
ℏ2 𝐸 + 𝑉0 ℏ2 𝐸

16. The unnormalized wave function of a particle in one dimension in an infinite square
well with walls at 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 𝑎, is 𝜓(𝑥) = 𝑥(𝑎 − 𝑥). If 𝜓(𝑥) is expanded as a
𝑎
linear combination of the energy eigenfunctions, ∫0 |𝜓(𝑥)|2 𝑑𝑥 is proportional to the
𝑎
infinite series (You may use ∫0 𝑡sin 𝑡𝑑𝑡 = −𝑎cos 𝑎 + sin 𝑎 and
𝑎
∫0 𝑡 2 sin 𝑡𝑑𝑡 = −2 − (𝑎2 − 2)cos 𝑎 + 2𝑎sin 𝑎
(a) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (2𝑛 − 1)
−6
(b) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (2𝑛 − 1)
−4

(c) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (2𝑛 − 1)
−2
(d) ∑∞
𝑛=1 (2𝑛 − 1)
−8

17. A one dimensional simple harmonic oscillator with Hamiltonian

𝑝2 1 2
𝐻0 = + 𝑘𝑥
2𝑚 2
is subjected to a small perturbation, 𝐻1 = 𝛼𝑥 + 𝛽𝑥 3 + 𝛾𝑥 4 . The first order correction
to the ground state energy is dependent on
(a) only 𝛽 (b) 𝛼 and 𝛾 (c) 𝛼 and 𝛽 (d) only 𝛾

18. Let 𝑎ˆ and 𝑎ˆ† , respectively denote the lowering and raising operators of a one-
dimensional simple harmonic oscillator. Let |𝑛⟩ be the energy eigenstate of the
simple harmonic oscillator. Given that |𝑛⟩ is also an eigen state of 𝑎ˆ† 𝑎ˆ† 𝑎ˆ𝑎ˆ, the
corresponding eigenvalue is
(a) 𝑛(𝑛 − 1) (b) 𝑛(𝑛 + 1) (c) (𝑛 + 1)2 (d) 𝑛2

19. A-A particle is confined in an infinite potential well of the form given below.
4𝑉0 𝑥(1 − 𝑥), ∀0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
𝑉(𝑥) = {
∞, otherwise
If the particle has energy 𝐸 ≥ 𝑉0 , which of the following could be the form of its
wavefunction?

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 20. Consider a harmonic oscillator in the state
|𝛼|2 +
|𝜓⟩ = 𝑒 2 𝑒 𝛼𝑎 |0⟩

where |0⟩ is the ground state, 𝑎+ is the raising operator and 𝛼 is a complex number.
What is the probability that the harmonic oscillator is in the 𝑛-th eigenstate |𝑛⟩ ?
|𝑎|2 |𝑎|n
−|𝛼2 |
|𝛼|2𝑛 −
2 √𝑛!
(a )𝑒 (b)𝑒
𝑛!

−|𝛼|2
|𝛼|𝑛 −
|𝛼|2 |𝛼|2𝑛
(c)𝑒 (d) 𝑒 2
𝑛! 𝑛!

21. A harmonic oscillator has the following Hamiltonian

𝑃ˆ2 1
𝐻0 = + 𝑚𝜔2 𝑥ˆ2
2𝑚 2
It is perturbed with a potential V = 𝜆𝑥ˆ4 . Some of the matrix elements of 𝑥ˆ2 in terms
of its expectation value in the ground state are given as follow:
⟨0|𝑥ˆ 2 |0⟩ = C
⟨0|x̂ 2 |2⟩ = √2C
⟨1|x̂ 2 |1⟩ = 3C
⟨1|x̂ 2 |3⟩ = √6C
Where |𝑛⟩ is the normalised eigenstate of H0 corresponding to the eigenvalue En =
ℏ𝜔(n + 1/2). Suppose Δ𝐸0 and Δ𝐸1 denote the energy correction of O(𝜆) to the
ground state and the first excited state, respectively. What is the fraction Δ𝐸1 and
Δ𝐸0
(a)0005 (b)0010 (c)0055 (d)0015

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 22. A quantum harmonic oscillator of mass 𝑚 and angular frequency 𝜔 is in the state
1
|𝜓⟩ = (|287⟩ + |288⟩), where |𝑛⟩ denotes the 𝑛th normalized energy eigenstate of
√2

ℏ
the harmonic oscillator. Let 𝐿0 = √
𝑚𝜔

denote the oscillator size and ⟨𝑥ˆ⟩ denote the expectation value of the position
⟨𝑥ˆ⟩
operator in the state |𝜓⟩. What is the value of ? You may use the form of the
𝐿0

position operator in terms of the raising and lowering operators:

𝐿0
𝑥ˆ = (𝑎 + 𝑎 † )
√2
(a)12 (b)15 (c)20 (d)22

23. A one-dimensional quantum harmonic oscillator is in its ground state

𝑚𝜔 1/4 −𝑚𝜔𝑥2 /2ℏ
𝜓0 (𝑥) = ( ) 𝑒
𝜋ℏ
Two experiments, [𝐴] and [𝐵], are performed on the system. In [𝐴], the frequency 𝜔
of the oscillator is suddenly doubled, while in [B] the frequency 𝜔 is suddenly
halved. If 𝑝𝐴 and 𝑝𝐵 denote the probability in each case that the system is found in its
new ground state immediately after the frequency change, which of the following is
true?
(a) 𝑝𝐴 = √2𝑝𝐵 (b) 𝑝𝐴 = 2𝑝𝐵 (c) 2𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝐵 (d) 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝐵

24. The wavefunction of the electron in a Hydrogen atom in a particular state is given by
−3/2
𝜋 −1/2 𝑎∘ exp (−𝑟/𝑎∘ ). Which of the following figures qualitatively depicts the
probability (𝑃(𝑟)) of the electron to be within a distance 𝑟 from the nucleus?

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 25. Given that
∂ 1
𝑝ˆ𝑟 = −𝑖ℏ ( + )
∂𝑟 𝑟
the uncertainty Δ𝑝𝑟 in the ground state
1
𝜓0 (𝑟) = 𝑒 −𝑟/𝑎0
√𝜋𝑎03
of the hydrogen atom is

ℏ √2ℏ ℏ 2ℎ
(a) (b) (c) (d)
𝑎0 𝑎0 2𝑎0 𝑎0

26. The operator

𝑑 𝑑
( − 𝑥) ( + 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
is equivalent to
𝑑2 𝑑2
(a ) 2
− 𝑥2 (b) 2
− 𝑥2 + 1
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑2 𝑑 𝑑2 𝑑
(c) 2 − 𝑥 +1 (d) − 2𝑥 − 𝑥2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

27. Consider a two-dimensional infinite square will 𝑉(𝑥, 𝑦) =

0 0 < 𝑥 < 𝑎, 0<𝑦<𝑎
{ , Its normalized eigenfunctions are
∞ otherwise
2 nx 𝜋x ny 𝜋y
𝜓nx ,ny (x, y) = sin ( ) sin ( )
a a a
where nx , ny = 1,2,3, If a perturbation
𝑎 𝑎
′ 𝑉0 0<𝑥< , 0<𝑦<
𝐻 ={ 2 2
0 otherwise
is applied, then the correction to the energy of the first excited state to order V0 is
𝑉0 𝑉0 64 𝑉0 16 𝑉0 32
(a ) (b) [1 ± 2 ] (c ) [1 ± 2 ] ( d) [1 ± 2 ]
4 4 9𝜋 4 9𝜋 4 9𝜋

28. The ground state energy of a particle of mass 𝑚 in an infinite potential well is 𝐸0 . It
changes to 𝐸0 (1 + 𝛼 × 10−3 ), when there is a small potential pump of height

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 𝜋 2 ℏ2
𝑉0 =
50𝑚𝐿2
and width 𝑎 = 𝐿/100, as shown in the figure. The value of 𝛼 is (up to two decimal
places).

(a)0.70 (b)0.50 (c)0.81 (d)0.90

29. Consider the Hamiltonian 𝐻ˆ = 𝐻ˆ0 + 𝐻ˆ ′ where

𝐸 0 0
𝐻ˆ0 = (0 𝐸 0 ) and 𝐻ˆ ′
0 0 𝐸
is the time independent perturbation given by
0 𝑘 0
𝐻ˆ ′ = (𝑘 0 𝑘 ) , where 𝑘 > 0.
0 𝑘 0
If, the maximum energy eigenvalues of 𝐻ˆ is 3𝑒𝑉

corresponding to 𝐸 = 2𝑒𝑉, the value of 𝑘 (rounded off to three decimal places) in eV

is
(a)1 (b)2 (c)3 (d)4

30. In a basis in which the z-component Sz of the spin is diagonal, an electron is in a spin
state
(1 + i)/√6
𝜓=( )
√2/3
The probabilities that a measurement of 𝑆𝑧 will yield the values ℏ/2 and −ℏ/2 are,
respectively.
(a) 1/2 and ½ (b) 2/3 and 1/3

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 (c) 1/4 and 3/4 (d) 1/3 and 2/3

1
31. A spin − particle is in the state
2

1 1+𝑖
𝜒= ( )
√11 3
ℏ
in the eigenbasis of S 2 and Sx . If we measure Sz the probabilities of getting + and
2
ℏ
− , respectively, are
2
1 1 2 9 1 3
(a) and (b) and (c) 0 and 1 (d) and
2 2 11 11 11 11

32. Consider the Hamiltonian H = AI + Bσx + Cσy , where A, B and C are positive
constants, I is the 2 × 2 identity matrix and σx , σy are Pauli matrices. If the
normalized eigenvector corresponding to its largest energy eigenvalue is
11
( ) then y is
√2 y
B + iC A − iB A − iC B − iC
(a) (b) (c) (d)
√B2 + C2 √A2 + B2 √A2 + C2 √B2 + C2

33. A particle in one dimension moves under the influence of a potential V(x) = 𝑎x 6 ,
where a is a real constant. For large n the quantized energy level En depends on n as:
(a) 𝐸𝑛 ∼ 𝑛3 (b)𝐸𝑛 ∼ 𝑛4/3 (c) 𝐸𝑛 ∼ 𝑛6/5 (d) 𝐸𝑛 ∼ 𝑛3/2

34. The ground state energy of a particle in the potential 𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑔|𝑥|, estimated using
the trial wavefunction
𝑐
√ 5 (𝑎 2 − 𝑥 2 ), 𝑥 < |𝑎|
𝜓(𝑥) = { 𝑎
0, 𝑥 ≥ |𝑎|
(where 𝑔 and 𝑐 are constants) is
1/3 1/3 1/3 1/3
15 ℏ2 𝑔2 5 ℏ2 𝑔 2 3 ℏ2 𝑔 2 7 ℏ2 𝑔 2
(a) ( ) (b) ( ) (c) ( ) (d) ( )
16 𝑚 6 𝑚 4 𝑚 8 𝑚

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 35. The 𝑛-th energy eigenvalue 𝐸𝑛 of a one-dimensional Hamiltonian
𝑝2
𝐻= + 𝜆𝑥 4
2𝑚
(where 𝜆 > 0 is a constant) in the WKB approximation, is proportional to
1 4/3 1/3 1 4/3 2/3
(a) (𝑛 + ) 𝜆 (b) (𝑛 + ) 𝜆
2 2

1 5/3 1/3 1 5/3 2/3

(c) (𝑛 + ) 𝜆 (d) (𝑛 + ) 𝜆
2 2

1
36. Spin fermions of mass 𝑚 and 4𝑚 are in a harmonic potential
2

1 2
𝑉(𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥
2
Which configuration of 4 such particles has the lowest value of the ground state
energy?
(a) 4 particles of mass 𝑚

(b) 4 particles of mass 4𝑚

(c) 1 particle of mass 𝑚 and 3 particles of mass 4𝑚

(d) 2 particles of mass 𝑚 and 2 particles of mass 4𝑚

1
37. Two identical non-interacting particles, each of mass 𝑚 and spin , are placed in a
2

onedimensional box of length 𝐿. In quantum mechanics, the lowest possible value of

the total energy of these two particles is 𝜖0 . If, instead, four such particles are
introduced into a similar one-dimensional box of length 2𝐿, then the lowest possible
value of their total energy will be
(a) 2𝜖0 (b) 5𝜖0 /4 (c) 3𝜖0 /2 (d) 𝜖0

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 38. A quantum mechanical system consists of a one-dimensional infinite box, as
indicated in the figures below.

3 (three) identical non-interacting spin- 1/2 particles, are first placed in the box, and
the ground state energy of the system is found to be 𝐸0 = 18eV. If 7 (seven) such
identical particles are placed in the box, what will be the ground state energy, in
units of eV?
(a)133 (b)132 (c)140 (d)135

39. In an elastic scattering process at an energy 𝐸, the phase shift 𝛿0 ≈ 30∘ , 𝛿1 ≈ 10∘ ,
while the other phase shifts are zero. The polar angle at which the differential cross
section peaks is closest to
(a) 20∘ (b) 10∘ (c) 00 (d) 30∘

Answer Key
1. b 2. b 3. a 4. d 5. d 6. b 7. b 8. b 9. a 10. c
11. c 12. c 13. a 14. b 15. c 16. b 17. d 18. a 19. a 20. a
21. a 22. a 23. d 24. a 25. a 26. b 27. b 28. c 29. a 30. d
31. b 32. a 33. b 34. a 35. a 36. d 37. d 38. b 39. c

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