# Discussion Questions

Published 2022-08-15

# 3.8 Discussion Questions

  1. Waves exhibit superposition. What physical phenomena are a result of superposition of waves?

  1. 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.

  1. How did Einstein use the particle model of light to explain the findings of the photoelectric effect experiment?

  1. How is spectroscopy used in other areas of science? Name some examples!

  1. Derive the Rydberg formula Eq.(Spectroscopy(1)) using the Bohr model. Evaluate the Rydberg constant R.

  1. Plot the spectra of the Lyman and Balmer series computationally.


  1. 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.

  1. 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.