Engineering Physics

(BPHY101L)

Dr. B. Ajitha
Assistant Professor
Division of Physics
VIT University
Chennai, India
ajitha.b@vit.ac.in
Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

1) A particle is confined to a box of length L. It is described by the

wave function Ѱ = A sin(πx/L) for 0< X< L and Ѱ=0 everywhere
else. Calculate A?
We know that in case of a particle enclosed in a box of length L and
moving along X-axis, the wave function is given by ,
 n x 
  Asin   (1)
 L 
Where n is positive integer.
x
Given that,   Asin   (2)
 L 
Comparing eq. (2), with eq. (1), we get n=1.
Applying the normalization condition
L
 0
 *dx  1 we have,
L x 
 dx  1
2 2
A sin  
0  L 
2
 x 
Problems
L

BPHY101L
A2 sin 2   dx  1
0  L  Dr. Ajitha

L  1  cos  2 x / L  
  dx  1
2
or A 
0
 2 

A2  L L 2 x 
2  0
dx   0
cos
L
dx   1


A2 L
2
 L  0  1 or A2
2
1

2
A 
2
L

2
A
L
3
Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

2) A particle is moving in 1-D potential box (of infinite height) of

width 25 Å. Calculate the probability of finding the particle
within an interval of 5 Å at the centre of the box when it is in its
state of least energy?
We know that the wave function of a 2  n x 
particle enclosed within an infinite   x   sin 
potential barrier is given by, a  a 

When the particle is the least 2 x

  x  sin 
energy n=1, hence in this case, a  a 
At the centre of the box x=a/2, the probability of finding the particle in the unit
interval at the centre of box is given by
2
 2   (a / 2)   2 2 2
  x    sin 
2
   sin 
 a  a   a 2 a
The probability P in the interval Δx 2
P    x   x   x
2
is given by, a
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Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

According to the problem, a=25 Å=25×10-10 m and

Δx=5 Å =5×10-10 m

2
P    x   x 
2
 x
a
10
2  5 10
P 10
25 10

Probability = P  0.4

5
Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

3) Find the least energy of an electron moving in the dimension in

as infinitely high potential box of width 1 Å, given mass of the
electron 9.11×10-31 kg and h=6.63×10-34 J-s?
We know that the values of energy of a
particle of mass ‘m’ moving in an infinite 1-D n2 h2
potential well of ‘a’ is given by,
En  2
(n  1, 2,3....)
8ma
The least energy of the particle can be h2
obtained by substituting n=1. The energy E1 
8ma 2
is given by

 6.63  10 
2
34
According to the given problem, E1  J
8  9.11 10 10 
m= 9.11×10-31 kg, a=1 Å=10-10 m 31 10
2
and h=6.63×10-34 J-s
9.1 1019
 9.1 1019 J  19
eV
1.602  10
 5.68 eV
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Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

4) An electron is bound by a potential which closely approaches in

infinite square well of width 2.5×10-10 m. Calculate the lowest
three permissible quantum energies the electron can have?

In case of infinite potential well, n2 h2

En 
8ma 2
Here, h=6.63×10-34 J-s, m= 9.11×10-31 kg,
 6.63  10 
2
a=2.5×10-10 m, Now: 34

E1  J
8  9.11 10  2.5  10 
2
31 10

9.63  1019
 9.63  1019 J  19
eV
1.602  10
E1  6 eV
Again, for second (n=2) and third E2  n 2 E1  4  6  24 eV
(3) quantum energies,
E3  n 2 E1  9  6  54 eV

7
Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

5) An electron is confined to move two rigid walls separated by

10-9 m. Find the de-Broglie wavelength representing the first
three allowed energy states of the electron and corresponding
energies?
When electron moves to and fro b/w the rigid walls, it forms stationary wave
pattern with nodes at the walls.
So the distance ‘a’ b/w the walls must be a whole multiple of the de-Broglie half
wavelengths. Hence,


a  n   , Where n  1, 2,3....
2
2a
  Given that a  109 m  10 Å
n
2  10 Å
  20 Å ,10 Å,6.67 Å, ..... (if n  1, 2,3,...)
n

8
Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

n2 h2
En  2
(n  1, 2,3....)
8ma
Here,h=6.63×10-34 J-s,
m= 9.11×10-31 kg,
 
2
34
a=10-9 m n 6.63  10
2

E1  J
  
2
8 9.11 1031 109

6.04  1020
 6.04  1020 n 2 J  n 2 eV
1.602  1019
 0.38 n 2 eV
For n=1, 2 and 3, we have

E1 = 0.38 eV, E2 = 1.52 eV and E3= 3.42 eV

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Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

6) An electron is bound by a potential which closely approaches an

infinite square well of width 2.5×10-10 m. Calculate the lowest
three permissible quantum energies the electron can have?
n2 h2
Given data: a= 2.5×10-10 m En 
8ma 2

 6.63  10 
2
34

E1  J
8  9.11 10  2.5  10 
2
31 10

 9.63  1019 J
9.63  1019
 19
eV
1.602  10
E1  6 eV
E2  24 eV
E3  54 eV
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Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

7) Find the energy of an electron moving in 1-D in an infinity high

potential box of width 1 Å, given mass of the electron 9.11×10-31
kgm and h=6.63×10-34 J-s?
h2
Given data: a=1 Å =10-10 m E
m= 9.11×10-31 kg & 8ma 2

 6.63  10 
h=6.63×10-34 J-s 34
2

E J
8  9.11 10 10 
2
31 10

 9.1 1019 J
9.1 1019
 19
eV
1.602  10

 0.58 eV

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Problems BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

8) A particle is confined to 1-D infinite potential well of width

0.2×10-19 m. It is found that when the energy of the particle is
230 eV, its Eigen function has 5 antinodes. Find the mass of the
particle and show that it can never have energy equal to 1 keV?
It is obvious from the problem that the particle is in quantum state with n=5.
If E5 and E1 represent the energies in state 5 and state 1, respectively, then
E5  52 E1  230 eV
 230  1.602  1019 J
E5230  1.602  1019
or E1  2   14.7  1019 J
5 25
We knowthat
h2 h2
E1  2
 m
8ma 8E1a 2
Here, h=6.63×10-34 J-s, E1= 14.7×10-19 J and a=0.2×10-9 m
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 h2
Problems m
8 E1a 2 Here, h=6.63×10-34 J-s, E1= 14.7×10-19 J and a=0.2×10-9 m
BPHY101L
Dr. Ajitha

 6.63  10 
2
34

m J
8 14.7  10  0.2  10 
2
19 9

 9.31031 kg
When En= 1 keV =103 eV, n should be such that
En 103 1.602 1019
n  2

E1 14.7 1019
n 2 108.7 or
n  10.4

As n = 10.4 is not an integer,

En = 1 keV is not permitted value of energy

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