Particle in a box (textbook) [ENDORSED]
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:04 am
Particle in a box (textbook)
The textbook explains the "particle in a box" concept and says "the idea to keep in mind is that only certain wavelengths can exist in the box." Can someone explain this further? Why is it called a "particle in a box" and how does it prove that only certain wavelengths can exist? Also, what does the "box" refer to?
-
- Posts: 23858
- Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:53 pm
- Has upvoted: 1253 times
Re: Particle in a box (textbook)
The particle is being modeled as a wave, just like we modeled the electron as a wave. In class we discussed that for the wave model of the electron there had to be a whole wavelengths for it to be stable (refer to class notes on circular standing wave).
-
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2017 3:03 am
Re: Particle in a box (textbook)
Did he mention particle in a box in lecture briefly and I missed it or is it just in the textbook?
-
- Posts: 23858
- Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:53 pm
- Has upvoted: 1253 times
Re: Particle in a box (textbook) [ENDORSED]
As I discussed in class we are not covering particle in a box (hence no homework assigned on it).
-
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am
Re: Particle in a box (textbook)
Basically think of what a wavelength is. It is the distance from one "peak" to another "peak." Think of a wavelength in a "box." It is bounded on 2 sides right? Therefore only a certain wavelength can "fit" into this box. A bigger or smaller wavelength will be discontinuous.
Return to “*Particle in a Box”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests