GEK1510/PC1323 Great Ideas in Contemporary Physics

Tutorial 3
1. Consider a particle of mass m that is confined to a one-dimensional box of length L in
quantum theory.
(a) What are the allowed wavelengths a particle wave function can take in the box?
Express your answer in terms of the quantum number n, where n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
(b) What are then the allowed momenta and energies of the particle?
(c) Suppose the particle is in the n = 4 state, which parts of the box is it most likely to be
found, and which parts is it least likely to be found?

2. The 1s, 2s and 3s orbitals of the hydrogen atom have been discussed in lecture.
(a) Based on these examples, guess the shape of the 4s orbital and then sketch or otherwise describe it.
(b) Using your results in (a), qualitatively plot the probability | |2 against radial distance
r from the center of the atom.

3. Consider the elementary particle interactions below and, for each one, state whether or
not it can occur and, if not, explain what rules or principles forbid it (if there is more than
one rule, mention all). Do not forget conservation of energy!
(a) 0 + n + p
(b) e + + e
(c) 0 + n 0 + 0
+
(d) +
c 0 + e + e

Not all particles that appear above will be familiar to you from lecture so make sure to look
up anything you havent seen. The particle listings at http://pdg.lbl.gov are an excellent
authoritative resource freely available from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in
California.

Last updated: February 27, 2015 5:30 pm (CCL)

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Semester II, 2014/15