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 - Questions - Page 1214: 6b

Answer

The energies of the higher energy states of the trapped electron are multiplied by $\frac{1}{4}$

Work Step by Step

We can write an expression for the energy of an electron in a potential well: $E_n = (\frac{h^2}{8m~L^2})~n^2$ We can write an expression for the energy of an electron in a potential well if the width $L$ is doubled: $E_n = \frac{h^2}{8m~(2L)^2}~n^2= \frac{1}{4}~\frac{h^2}{8m~L^2}~n^2$ The energies of the higher energy states of the trapped electron are multiplied by $\frac{1}{4}$
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