Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 39 - More about Matter Waves - Problems - Page 1216: 28e

Answer

$6$ degenerate states

Work Step by Step

The quantized energies for an electron trapped in a three-dimensional infinite potential well that forms a e rectangular box are $E_{nx,ny,nz}=\frac{h^2}{8m}\Big(\frac{n_x^2}{L_x^2}+\frac{n_y^2}{L_y^2}+\frac{n_z^2}{L_z^2}\Big)$, where m is the electron mass and $n_x$ is a quantum number for well width$ L_x$, $n_y$ is a quantum number for well width $L_y$ and $n_z$ is a quantum number for well width $L_z$. In this problem, the electron is contained in a cubical box of widths $L_x=L_y=L_z=L$. $\therefore\;\;E_{nx,ny,nz}=\frac{h^2}{8mL^2}\Big(n_x^2+n_y^2+n_z^2\Big)$, The fifth exited states are the $(3,2,1)$, $(3,1,2)$, $(2,3,1)$, $(2,1,3)$, $(1,3,2)$ and $(1,2,3)$ states having same energy of $E_{3,2,1}=E_{3,1,2}=E_{2,3,1}=E_{2,1,3}=E_{1,3,2}=E_{1,2,3}=\frac{h^2}{8mL^2}\Big(3^2+2^2+1^2\Big)=14\Big(\frac{h^2}{8mL^2}\Big)$ Therefore, there are $6$ degenerate states which have the energy of the fifth excited state.
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