Problems - Quantum mechanics -02
1. An electron is constrained to a one dimensional potential well of side 1nm. Calculate
the first four eigen values in electron volt.
Soln :
l = 1nm, E1 , E2 , E3 and E4 =?
We have,
n2 h2
En =
8ml2
The first eigen value (n = 1),
(6.63 × 10−34 )2
E1 =
8 × 9.1 × 10−31 × (10−9 )2
E1 = 0.37eV
The second eigen value (n = 2),
E2 = 4E1 = 1.51eV
The third eigen value (n = 3),
E3 = 9E1 = 3.39eV
The fourth eigen value (n = 4),
E4 = 16E1 = 6.50eV
2. An electron is bound in one dimensional potential well of width 1Å. Find its energy
values in the ground state and also in first two excited states.
Soln :
l = 1 × 10−10 m, E1 , E2 , and E3 =?
We have,
n 2 h2
En =
8ml2
Energy value for ground state (n = 1),
1
(6.63 × 10−34 )2
E1 =
8 × 9.1 × 10−31 × (10−10 )2
E1 = 37.69eV
Energy value for first excited state (n = 2),
E2 = 4E1 = 150.56eV
Energy value for second excited state (n = 3),
E3 = 9E1 = 339.21eV
3. An electron is confined to move between two walls of potential separated by 20 Å.
Find the de Broglie wavelength representing the first three allowed energy states of
the electron and the corresponding energies.
Soln :
l = 20 × 10−10 m, E1 , E2 , E3 and λ1 , λ2 , and λ3 =?
We have,
n2 h2
En =
8ml2
The first eigen value (n = 1),
(6.63 × 10−34 )2
E1 =
8 × 9.1 × 10−31 × (20 × 10−10 )2
E1 = 1.5 × 10−20 J
The second eigen value (n = 2),
E2 = 4E1 = 6 × 10−20 J
The third eigen value (n = 3),
E3 = 9E1 = 13.5 × 10−20 J
Since the potential is zero, the kinetic energy of the electron is the total energy E,
p2
∴E=
2m
or
2
√
p= 2mE
Let p1 , p2 , and p3 be the momenta of the electron corresponding to the first 3 al-
lowed energy states, and λ1 , λ2 and λ3 be the corresponding de Broglie wavelengths.
Therefore,
h h
λ1 = =√ = 4 × 10−9 m
p1 2mE1
h h
λ2 = =√ = 2 × 10−9 m
p2 2mE2
h h
λ3 = =√ = 1.33 × 10−9 m
p3 2mE3
4. An electron is trapped in a one dimensional box of width 0.1nm. Calculate the energy
required to excite the electron from its ground state to fifth excited state.
Soln :
We have,
n 2 h2
En =
8ml2
For ground state (n = 1),
n 2 h2
E1 = = 37.59eV
8ml2
For fifth excited state (n = 6),
n 2 h2
E6 = = 1353.3eV
8ml2
∴ E6 − E1 = 1315.7eV
5. An eigen value of an electron is confined to a one dimensional potential box of length
0.2nm is 151eV . What is the order of the state?
Soln :
l = 0.2nm, E = 151eV, n =?
We have,
n 2 h2
E=
8ml2
3
n=4
6. A particle limited to the X-axis has the wave function ψ = ax. Find the probability
that the particle can be found between X = 0.35 to X = 0.45.
Soln :
Zx2
P = |ψ|2 dx
x1
0.45
Z
P = a2 x2 dx
0.35
0.45
x3
2
P =a = 0.016a2
3 0.35
7. A particle confined to one dimensional potential box of width l in its first excited
state. What is the probability of finding the particle over an interval of (l/2) marked
symmetrically at the center of the box.
Soln :
We have,
r
2 nπ
ψn = sin x
l l
For the first excited state n = 1
r
2 2π
ψ2 = sin x
l l
Z 3l/4
∴P = |ψ2 |2 dx
l/4
Z 3l/4
"r #2
2 2π
P = sin x dx
l/4 l l
Z 3l/4
2 2 2π
P = sin x dx
l l/4 l
" #
3l/4 1 − cos 4π
Z
2 l
P = x dx
l l/4 2
4
"Z #
3l/4 Z 3l/4
1 4π
P = dx − cos xdx
l l/4 l/4 l
3l/4 !
1 3l/4 l 4π
P = [x]l/4 − sin x
l 4π l l/4
1 3l l
P = −
l 4 4
1
P = = 0.5
2
8. Find the probability that a particle trapped in a box L wide can be found between
X = 0.45L to X = 0.55L for the ground state and first excited state.
Soln :
Zx2
P = |ψ|2 dx
x1
Zx2
2 nπx
P = sin2 dx
L L
x1
For ground state, n = 1
0.55L
Z
1 2πx
P = 1 − cos dx
L L
0.45L
1 1 2 × 180 × 0.55L 2 × 180 × 0.45L
P = [0.55L − 0.45L]− sin − sin = 0.198
L 2π L L
For first excited state, n = 2, Therefore
1 1 4 × 180 × 0.55L 4 × 180 × 0.45L
P = [0.55L − 0.45L]− sin − sin = 0.0065
L 2π L L
