Introduction to Modern Physics - Exam 2 Solutions - Friday, November 20, 2009

1. /
in a metal. Assume an incident photon has a wavelength of 440 nm. (25 pts.)

a. What color is it? (1 pt.)
Indigo/Blue
b. What is its energy? (8 pts.)
1240
=
= .

440
c. Find the wavelength of an electron after absorbing the photon. (8 pts.)
The kinetic energy of an electron after absorbing a photon of such an energy is:
= = 2.82
2
2
=
=

2 22
2
2 =

2

1240
=
=
=
= .
2
2 2 2 0.511 2.82

d. ^s 1 V. What
will be the wavelength of the electron upon emergence from the metal? (8 pts.)
= = 2.82 1 = 1.82

1240
=
=
=
= .
2 2 2 2 0.511 1.82
= =

2. An atom of mass m is attached to another by a one-dimensional harmonic oscillator potential

energy with spring constant K, defined as F=-kx. (24 pts. + 1 free pt. )

a. Write the potential energy. (6 pts.)

= =

= =

b. Write the one dimensional time independent Schrdinger equation for 
with the harmonic oscillator potential. (6 pts.)

+ =



+ =


c. In the space provided, carefully draw a diagram of the wave function (x) and probability
P(x) for the two lowest energy states. (6 pts.)

2 2

d. The wave function for the ground state is 0 = 0 /2 

and the energy corresponding to this state. (6 pts.)
2 2 1 2
+ =
2 2 2
2 2
2 2 0 /2 1 2
2 2
2 2
+ 0 /2 = 0 /2
2
2

2
2 2
2 0 /2 2 1 2
2 2
2 2
+ 0 /2 = 0 /2
2

2
2
1
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
(0 /2 2 0 /2 4 2 ) + 2 0 /2 = 0 /2
2
2

2 2
1
4 2 + 2 =
2
2
2 4 2 1 2 1
= = 2 2
2
2
2
2 2

4 =

2

=
=
=

3. An electron is confines to move freely in a two dimensional circular box of Radius a=1.0 nm

having infinite potential walls. The gradient vector in polar coordinates is = + . (25

pts.)
a. Obtain the Laplacian 2 = (0 pts.)
We must be careful because the unit vectors depend on the coordinate .
Viz. = cos + sin = sin + cos
This results in = 1 , = 1 , * = 0

However =- , =
Proceeding VERY CAREFULLY:
1
1
2 = =
+

+
=

2
2
2
2

+
1

1
2

2
2

+
1

+
2

1 2

=
1

+ 2 + 2 + + = 2 + 2 2 +

= +
+

b. Write the time independent Schrdinger equation in 2-dimensional polar coordinates. (5
pts.)
2 2
(, , )+ ((), , ( = ), , )
2



+
+
+ () =


<

=

>


c. Using separation of variables technique obtain the and dependent wave equations for
( )and (), separately. (5 pts.)
Assume that the solution can be written in the form: , = ()
2
1 2
1
2

2+ 2
+

()
=
()

2
2
2
1 2
1
2

()
=
()
2
2 2

2
2 2
1 2
1

2 2

+
+
=

2
2



2

2 2
2 2

1 2

= 2
2
2

2
So then we have:
2

2 2
2
+

+ 2 = 2
2

And:

d. What are the boundary conditions on ( )and ()? (5 pts.)

The boundary conditions are:
= = +
Where

e. Obtain a solution for (). (5 pts.)
2
= 2
2
Recognize that this is a second order differential equation which yields the general solution:
= +

f. Determine the quantum conditions by applying boundary conditions on (). (5 pts.)
We will use the boundary condition = + 2 :
= + = ( +2 ) + ( +2 ) = + 2 + 2

2
2

must both be equal to one. For this to be satisfied, the argument of
the exponential must be equal to times an integer multiple of 2.

The only way to satisfy this criterion to require . That is the quantum condition.

4. Assume 236 undergoes symmetric fission into two uniformly charged spheres, each of radius
R=5 fm. (10 pts.)

a. Calculate the Coulomb energy in MeV when they are just touching. (5 pts.)
462
46 1.6 1019 2
2
=
=
=
= .
40 40 10 4 8.85 1012 10 1015

b. Explain why 235 + fissions wheras 238 + does not. (5 pts.)
235
238
has an even-odd pairing of protons and neutrons, wheras
has an even-even
pairing of protons and neutrons. If the former accepted a neutron, it would bring itself to an
even-even nucleus, increase the stability and, by difference in binding energy, release
energy. If the latter were to accept a neutron, it would bring itself to an even-odd nucleus,
which is less energetically favorable, releasing not enough energy.

5. The distribution of electron energy levels in a star is given by

8
33

2 , where V is the

volume of the star. (15 pts.)

a. For a star at temperature 0 K obtain an expression for the average energy of an electron
assuming the Fermi energy is . (5 pts.)
8


0 0 0 3 3 3 34

=
=
= 3 =
8


0 3 3 2 4
0
0

b. Assuming there are electrons, find the Fermi energy by integrating . (5 pts.)

8 2

3 3

8
8
8
= 3 3 2 = 3 3 2 = 3 3 3


3
0

c. If the number of nucleons in the Sun is = 1.2 1057 , and the Sun becomes a white
dwarf of radius = 7 103 , what will be the Fermi energy and average energy of the
electrons? (5 pts.)

4
4
= 3 = 7 106 3 = 1.437 1021 3
3
3

=
= 6.0 1056
2

3

3
3
3 6.0 1056
= 1240
= .
8
8 1.437 1048 3

3
= = .
4