## Knowing Which Equation to Use

$\lambda=\frac{h}{p}$

AChoudhry_1L
Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:17 am

### Knowing Which Equation to Use

When approaching quantum problems, what is your method to determine which equation we should be using?

FDeCastro_1B
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Knowing Which Equation to Use

I use Dr. Lavelle's problem solving guidelines:
1. What is the question?
2. What concepts do I know?
3. What model or equations do I know?
4. What is known? What is unknown?
5. Can I express unknown with respect to the known?

AKhanna_3H
Posts: 104
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:19 am

### Re: Knowing Which Equation to Use

I usually start by figuring out what variables I know and then finding an equation that has the unknown variable in it, filling in all the known variables that apply to that equation.

Natalie Wang 1B
Posts: 51
Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:15 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Knowing Which Equation to Use

At the moment, I'm distinguishing them based off of electromagnetic radiation and the quantum mechanics of electrons. For example, De Brogile's equation can only be applied to electrons, NOT light.

gabbymaraziti
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:19 am

### Re: Knowing Which Equation to Use

I usually begin by circling the quantities and units given in the problem, and what type of unit I need to find. Then, I just find which equation allows me work between what is given and the unknown.