## Shrodinger Equation Confusion

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

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

Sofia Lombardo 3F
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:31 pm

### Shrodinger Equation Confusion

I know that the Shrodinger equation on the equation sheet is V=R (1/n(final) - 1/n(initial)). But when I use this way I get a negative number, but we don't include the negative in our answer? Why is the negative not included? If the answer is positive can I switch the n(final) and n(initial) to get a positive answer? I tried this on some problems and got the same answer just without the negative. Is the negative important?

Isaias Gomez D3A
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:37 pm
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Shrodinger Equation Confusion

i believe it is valid to switch the n final and n initial, because i think that term represents the difference between the two, so it should matter. I would do the higher one minus the lower one to ensure a positive answer.

Rohit Srinivas 1C
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:52 pm

### Re: Shrodinger Equation Confusion

I believe what you are referring to is the Rydberg equation. V=R (1/n(final) - 1/n(initial)) will always give you a positive number. Think about it in terms of fractions, final will always be smaller than the initial. The larger a denominator, the smaller the fraction. Hence, 1/small - 1/large will always be positive!

sabrina ghalambor 1E
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:35 pm

### Re: Shrodinger Equation Confusion

similar to calculus or when computing a rate of change, you always do final-inital. that way it should be positive since it ends on a lower n level than it starts!