SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

SPH 313: QUANTUM MECHANICS I: PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. A particle on a line has a normalized wave function  (x). Write down a formula for the
expectation value of x 2 .

2. The momentum operator is pˆ   i  Calculate the momentum of a particle described
x
by the wave function  k x   ei k x .(Ans momentum, p  k )
3. Explain what is meant by the orthogonality of two wavefunctions  1 ( x) and  2 ( x) ), in
the quantum mechanics of a particle on a line    x   .
4. A particle is constrained to move in the one-dimensional interval -a  x  a. Write down the
definition of the expectation value x  of the coordinate x when the wavefunction of the
particle is  ( x) .
5. The wavefunction  ( x)  Ax e
-x
describes a particle which propagates in one dimension
and is confined to the region x > 0. Find the most probable value of x.
(Hint:
d 
dx

 x x  0 )
6. A particle is constrained to move in the one-dimensional interval -a  x  a. Write down the
definition of the expectation value x  and  x  of the coordinate x when the wave function
2

of the particle is  ( x) .
7. Briefly describe some experimental evidence that massive particles possess wave properties.
8. What is the quantum mechanical interpretation of  and   , where  is a solution of the
Schrödinger equation? Why does  have to be square-integrable? What does this mean in
mathematical terms?
9. What sort of quantum mechanical system does the Schrödinger equation describe? Does it
apply to massless particles?
10. What mathematical quantities in quantum mechanics represent experimental observables?
State the quantity that represents energy.
11. Define what is meant by the term ‘stationary state’ in quantum mechanics, and hence explain
the distinction between the time-dependent and time-independent Schrodinger equations.
12. Show that if  1 x, t  and  2 x, t  are both solutions of the time-dependent Schrodinger
equation, then  1 x, t    2 x, t  is a solution as well
13. Write down the time-dependent and time-independent Schrodinger equation for the wave
function  (x, t) of a particle of mass m moving in one dimension x in the potential V (x).
14. Consider a particle in the ground state of an infinite potential box of length L. The wave
functions of the particle in an infinite potential well are given by
2  nx 
 n ( x)  sin 
L  L 
(i) Find the probability density | |2 for the ground state. (ii) Where is the particle most
likely to be found (in the ground state) ? (iii) What is the probability of finding a particle
in the interval between x = 0.50L and x = 0.51L (in the ground state) ?

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD
 SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

2 2  x 
Ans: (i):| (x)|2 = sin  
L  L 
Ans (ii) The most probable value, xmp, is the value of x for which | (x)|2 is a
maximum. From Figure 2, this is seen to be , xmp= (L/2).

Fig2: Probability density of a particle in the ground state of a rigid box

Ans (iii) Probability = 0.02

15. A one-particle, one-dimensional system has a normalized wavefunctions of the form

2  nx 
 n ( x)  . sin 
L  L 
at t = 0, where L = 1 nm. At t= 0, the particle’s position is measured. Find the probability
that the measured value lies between x = 0.1 nm and x = 0.2 nm. Ans 0.042
16. Write down the normalization condition for the wave function  (x) of a particle which is
restricted to move in the interval    x    . Hence find the normalization constant
for the wave function,
ax 2 i 0 t
 
 x, t   Ne e  2

in the interval    x    . Write down the normalized wave function. Use the
standard integral


e
 ax 2
dx 

a
1 1
ax 2 i t
 a 4  a 4   0
Ans. N     x, t     e 2 e 
   
17. Find the normalization constant, N for the wavefunction
  nx   0
 iE t
L L
 N sin e for   x 
 ( x, t )    L  2 2
0 else


You may find this trigonometric identity sin2   1  cos 2  useful. Ans N 
1 2
2 L
18. Normalize the wave function
 xl  x  0 xl
 x   
0 x  0 and x  l

Sketch  x  versus x. Ans. N 

30
l5

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD
 SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

19. Why must any wave function be square integrable ?

20. Write down any three properties that an acceptable wave function must have.
21. Explain how the wave function is related to a probability density. Why must wavefunctions
be normalized ?
22. Write down the one-dimensional (1-D) time-dependent Schrodinger equation (TDSE) for the
wavefunction ψ(x; t) of a particle of mass m moving in one dimension x in the potential V (x)
. Identify the Kinetic Energy term.
23. Given that A  a  ib and B  c  id ; show that
AB   BA  2ac  bd 
AB  BA  2 ReAB   2 ReA B
24. Replace the following classical mechanical expressions with their corresponding quantum
mechanical operators.
1
a. K.E. = mv 2 in three-dimensional space.
2
b. p = mv, a three-dimensional cartesian vector.
25. The wave function  x   A x e  x describes a particle which propagates in 1-D dimension
and is confined to the region x > 0. Find the most probable value of x.
Hint: probability density =  x  . Find solution by  x   0 (ans. x=2)
2 d 2

dx
26. State any five experimental results that could not be explained using classical mechanics ideas
but which were successfully explained using the quantum theory.
27. An electron in a one dimensional box of length L = 7.2 Å has energies given by
  2 2  2
E n   n  E1 n 2 where n = 1, 2, 3, ……
2 
 2mL 
Show that E1  0.726eV ; E2  2.90 eV ; E3  6.53 eV ; E4  11.62 eV
28. Explain what was learned about quantization of radiation or mechanical system from three of
the following experiments:
(a) Photoelectric effect. (b) Black body radiation spectrum.
(c) Compton scattering. (d) Franck-Hertz experiment.
(d) Davisson-Germer experiment.
Describe the experiments selected in detail, indicate which of the measured effects were non-
classical and why, explain how they can be understood as quantum phenomena. Give
equations if appropriate.

29. A particle of mass 2.0  10 26 g is in a 1-D box of length 4.00 nm. Find the frequency and the
wavelength of this photon emitted when the particle goes from the n=3 to the n=2 level.
(Answer frequency = 1.29  1012 Hertz and λ= 2.32  104 m)
30. A proton is confined in an infinite square well of width 10 fm. (The nuclear potential that
binds protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is often approximated by an infinite

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD
 SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

square well potential.) Mass of a proton m p  1.673  10 27 kg , Planck’s constant,

h  6.626  10 34 Js , 1 femtometre is equivalent to 1  10 15 metres
(a) Calculate the energy and wavelength of the photon emitted when the proton
undergoes a transition from the first excited state (n = 2) to the ground state (n = 1).
(Answer: λ  202 fm , E  6.15 MeV )
(b) In what region of the electromagnetic spectrum does this wavelength belong ?
(Answer: The wavelength is the gamma ray region of the spectrum)
31. Describe the differences between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics
L
32. Find the normalization constant for the wave function  ( x)  ei in the range 0  x 
2
33. Calculate the lowest energy (in electron volts) of an electron in a hydrogen atom. (13.6 eV)

34. The work function of a material refers to the minimum energy required to remove an electron
from the material. Assume that the work function of gold is 4.90 eV and that of cesium is 1.90
eV. Calculate the maximum wavelength of light for the photoelectric emission of electrons for
gold and cesium.
35. Consider the wavefunction
  2 x   6 x 
 x   A sin   4 sin 
  L   L 

Write  x  in terms of the normalized solutions to the Schrodinger equation

2  n x 
 n x   sin ; n  1, 2, 3, .........
L  L 

and show that it can be written as  x   A  2( x)  4 6 ( x)

L
2
Determine the normalization constant A.

36. Give the quantum-mechanical operators for the following physical quantities
(a) pˆ 3y (b) xpy  yp x (c) xpy  ypx 2
37. Let  ( x)  ax  1x  b be the wave function of a particle which is confined to move freely
on a line parameterized by x in the interval  1  x  1 (in other words the potential V is
given by V=0 for  1  x  1 , and V=  for x  1 and x   1 ). Hence a and b are
constants (with a being the normalization constant).
(i) Determine b such that  (x ) obeys the correct boundary conditions for a particle
constrained to move for  1  x  1 .
(ii) Normalize the wave function
(iii) Calculate the expectation value of x and the most probable value of x

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD
 SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

(iv) Verify by an explicit calculation of  x  p that Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

is satisfied.

38. The state of a free particle of mass m in one dimension is described by the following quantum
wave function:
0 x  a

 x    Aa  x  a xa
0 xa

a) Determine A using the normalization condition. (You may choose the phase convention
so that A is real.)
b) What is the probability that a measurement of the particle’s position will reveal it to be in
 a
the range 0 ,  ?
 2
c) Show that x = 0 and also calculate x 2 and hence the uncertainty,  x , for this state
d) Write down Schrödinger’s time-independent equation for  x  . Hint: Remember, it’s a
free particle.

39. The lowest energy of a particle in an infinite potential well with a width of 100 Å is 0.025 eV
What is the mass of the paticle ? (1.37  10-31 kg)

40. Answer the same questions as in Example 7.2 above but for the first excited state (n=2) of the
rigid box (infinite potential well).
 2 x 
Ans   x   sin 2 
2 2 a 3 a
 xmp  and a ;  x  , probability = 0
a  a  3 4 2
41. Consider a particle of mass m inside a box of size L with infinite walls
0 for 0  x  L
V x   
 for x  0 and x  L
The wave function is specified at t = 0 to be

 2 x 3 x 
  x , t  0   C  3 sin  2 sin 
 L L 

n x
a) Write down  x , t  0 in terms of  2 and  3 where  n 
2
sin and
L L
2
b) Determine the normalization constant C (Ans C )
13L
c) Expand the wave function at the initial time  x , t  0 in terms of eigen functions of the
n 2 2  2
infinite box i.e. En  hence determine the expansion coefficients cn
2mL2

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD
 SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

d) Write down  x, t  at an arbitrary later time, t.

e) If a measurement of the particle’s energy at time t is performed, what will be the possible
outcomes, and with what probability will those values be measured ? What is the average
energy E  of the particle in the box? Is E  changed by the measurement ?

42. Consider a particle of mass m in a potential well described by

0 0 xL
V x   
 otherwise
A complete set of orthonormal eigenfunctions of energy is given by
L  nx 
 n x   sin  n = 1, 2, 3, …..
2  L 
(a) Show that the corresponding eigenvalues are
 2  2n2
En 
2m L2
(b) Let  x  be some solution of the time independent Schrödinger equation with the above
potential V. Explain why a general expression of  x  can be expressed in terms of  n  x 
as

 n x    an n x 
n 1
2
(c) What is the physical interpretation of an ?
(d) What does it mean that the functions  n  x  are orthonormal? Write it down as a
mathematical condition.
(e) Show that  p  0 for any  n , where p is the momentum of the particle. How do you
interpret this result?
(f) For any state  n . derive the expression for  p 2  . (You may do this without performing
 nx 
L
L
any integration, or else use  sin 2   dx 
0  L  2

43. A flux of particles with energy E  V0 is incident from the left on 1-D barrier given by
V for x  0
V x    0
 0 for x  0
(a) State the boundary conditions that apply for the wavefunction at x = 0
(b) Solve the time independent Schrodinger equation to obtain to obtain the wavefunction
for x < 0 and x > 0.
(c) Show that the reflected flux is equal and opposite the incident flux
(d) An electron of energy 1 10 19 J is incident on a potential step of height 2 1019 J.
Estimate by how far the electron penetrates into the barrier.

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD
 SPH 313: Quantum Mechanics I: Department of Physics, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

(e) For a simple barrier V ( x)  V0 for 0  x  L and zero elsewhere, the probability of
penetration is approximately given by exp(2L) , where


2m
V0  E  .
2
Develop this expression to obtain an approximate expression for the probability that a
particle will penetrate a barrier of arbitrary shape.

44. Write down the Hermiticity condition in intergral form and also write it down using Dirac’s
bra and ket notation.

45. A quantum system has a set of eigenstates un x  , with energies E n . The system is placed in a
state  that is not an eigenstate; use the fact that the u n are a complete set to show that the
expectation value of the Hamilitonian,  H   , always overestimates the ground-state
energy.

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Maxwell Mageto, PhD