#
Discussion Questions
#
3.8 Discussion Questions
- Waves exhibit superposition. What physical phenomena are a result of superposition of waves?
- We saw how light passing through 2 slits exhibit a diffraction pattern and understood it from the principle of superposition. Light passing through a single slit also creates a diffraction pattern. Explain single slit diffraction qualitatively.
- How did Einstein use the particle model of light to explain the findings of the photoelectric effect experiment?
- How is spectroscopy used in other areas of science? Name some examples!
- Derive the Rydberg formula Eq.(Spectroscopy(1)) using the Bohr model. Evaluate the Rydberg constant R.
- Plot the spectra of the Lyman and Balmer series computationally.
- Derive the allowed energy states and wavefunction for particle in a box given Eq.(QM(15)) and Eq.(QM(16)).
Guiding steps, if you need:
- Insert our guess solution Eq.(QM(13)) into Eq.(QM(9)) and to obtain the general solution Eq(QM(14));
- Apply the boundary conditions to the general solution. Using Eq.(QM(11)), you will find a sine function. Using Eq.(QM(12)) you will find that only integer values of \pi are allowed for the argument in the sine function.
- Do a bit of algebra to get the allowed energy states.
- Use the normalising condition given in Eq.(QM(8)) to find the coefficient A.
- Graph the particle in a box wavefunction for n= 1, 2 and 3. Label each sketch with the value of energy associated with each n.