## What is a node?

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

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

Daniel Rivas 3L
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am

### What is a node?

One thing that is confusing me about the Schrodinger equation section is the node definition. What exactly is a node? And also what does it mean by the wavefunction passing 0?

Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am

### Re: What is a node?

So my understanding of it is that a node is where the wavefunction passes through zero - meaning it goes from positive to negative or vice versa - rather than just hitting zero and going back the way it came, as though reflected (not changing sign). So while a wavefunction can equal zero, it doesn't necessarily mean that that point is a node if it doesn't cross zero. Hope that helps!

Clara Hu 1G
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### Re: What is a node?

Also, at a node, the wavefunction is zero, so the electron density at the node is also zero, and the probability of finding an electron there is zero.

Christy Zhao 1H
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am

### Re: What is a node?

Just to reiterate, keep in mind that the node is where the wavefunction passes through zero, it doesn't just reach zero.

Aya Shokair- Dis 2H
Posts: 58
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:07 am

### Re: What is a node?

Yes, correct me if I'm wrong but I think of a node as having zero possibility of an electron being in that space.

Sophie 1I
Posts: 51
Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am

### Re: What is a node?

Yes, a node is where the wave function passes through zero