d 2ψ ( x )

40.43: a) For a free particle, U ( x)  0 so Schro dinger' s equation becomes 

dx 2
2m
 2 Eψ ( x).
h
See graph below.

b) For x < 0 ψ ( x)  e  kx .
dψ ( x )
 ke  kx .
dx
d 2ψ ( x )
 k 2 e  kx .
dx
2m 2k 2
So k 2   2 E  E   .
 2m
c)  For x > 0 ψ ( x )  e  kx .
dψ ( x)
  ke  kx .
dx
d 2ψ ( x )
 k 2 e kx
dx
2m   2k 2
So again k 2   2 E  E  .
 2m
  2k 2
Parts (c) and (d) show ψ (x) satisfies Schro dinger' s equation, provided E  .
2m
dψ ( x)
d) Note is discontinuous at
dx
x  0. (That is, negative for x  0 and positive for x  0.)