## Schrodinger Equation and Wave Functions

$H_{\psi }=E_{\psi }$

1-D: $E_{TOTAL}\psi (x)=E_{k}\psi (x)+V(x)\psi(x)=-\frac{h^{2}}{8\pi ^{2}m}\frac{d^{2}\psi(x)}{dx^{2}}+V(x)\psi(x)$

Austin Ho 1E
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### Schrodinger Equation and Wave Functions

Hi all,

Just finished reading Chapter 1 and I still feel a bit confused about the Schrodinger Equation and Wave Functions. From my understanding, wave functions are substituted since we can't use trajectories to describe where electrons will be (due to their particle-wave duality), and that the square of the wave function gives you a probability density of finding the electron. I also understand that if this probability density is 0 at a point, that point is considered a node and you can never find the electron there.

Does this sound about right or am I missing anything else? I know we won't be using it for calculations but it's still a bit confusing!

Thanks!

kaushalrao2H
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### Re: Schrodinger Equation and Wave Functions

I too was a bit confused with that section, but I think the main idea is the idea of Heisenberg uncertainty and that both the position and momentum of a small object cannot be known at the same time. You're right about everything you mentioned in your post also (the stuff about probability density, wave functions, and nodes).

Chem_Mod
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Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:53 pm
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### Re: Schrodinger Equation and Wave Functions

Above comments are correct and well stated. I will be covering these concepts in class.