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Suppose that the uncertainty in position of an electron is equal to the radius of the \(n=1\) Bohr orbit, about \(0.5 \times 10^{-10} \mathrm{~m}\). Calculate the minimum uncertainty in the corresponding momentum component, and compare this with the magnitude of the momentum of the electron in the \(n=1\) Bohr orbit.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The minimum uncertainty in momentum is \( 1.05 \times 10^{-24} \, \mathrm{kg \, m/s} \), close to half the actual electron momentum \( 2.11 \times 10^{-24} \, \mathrm{kg \, m/s} \).

Step by step solution

01

Identify Known Variables

We know the uncertainty in the position of the electron, \( \Delta x = 0.5 \times 10^{-10} \mathrm{~m} \). This is given as the radius of the \( n=1 \) Bohr orbit.
02

Use Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle

According to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, the uncertainty in position and momentum are related by the inequality:\[\Delta x \cdot \Delta p \geq \frac{\hbar}{2}\]where \( \hbar \) is the reduced Planck's constant, approximately \( 1.0545718 \times 10^{-34} \mathrm{~Js} \).
03

Solve for Minimum Momentum Uncertainty

From the inequality, solve for the minimum uncertainty in momentum, \( \Delta p \):\[\Delta p \geq \frac{\hbar}{2 \cdot \Delta x}\]Substituting the known values:\[\Delta p \geq \frac{1.0545718 \times 10^{-34}}{2 \times 0.5 \times 10^{-10}} = 1.0545718 \times 10^{-24} \, \mathrm{kg \, m/s}\]
04

Calculate Electron's Momentum in Bohr Orbit

The momentum of an electron in a Bohr orbit is given by \( p = \frac{h}{\lambda} \), where \( \lambda = 2 \pi r \) (circumference of the orbit) and \( h = 6.62607015 \times 10^{-34} \mathrm{~Js} \) is Planck's constant. The radius \( r = 0.5 \times 10^{-10} \mathrm{~m} \).Thus, \( p = \frac{h}{2 \pi r} \):\[p = \frac{6.62607015 \times 10^{-34}}{2 \pi \times 0.5 \times 10^{-10}} = 2.11 \times 10^{-24} \, \mathrm{kg \, m/s}\]
05

Compare the Two Momentum Values

The minimum uncertainty in momentum is \( 1.05 \times 10^{-24} \, \mathrm{kg \, m/s} \), and the electron's momentum in the \( n=1 \) Bohr orbit is \( 2.11 \times 10^{-24} \, \mathrm{kg \, m/s} \). The uncertainty in momentum is about half the magnitude of the actual momentum.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle
In the realm of quantum mechanics, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle is a fundamental concept that draws a boundary on the precision with which certain pairs of physical properties, like position and momentum, can be known simultaneously. This principle can be summarized by the inequality:
  • \( \Delta x \cdot \Delta p \geq \frac{\hbar}{2} \)

Here, \( \Delta x \) is the uncertainty in position, \( \Delta p \) is the uncertainty in momentum, and \( \hbar \) is the reduced Planck's constant. This means as we try to measure an electron's position more accurately, its momentum becomes less certain, and vice versa.
This principle is not a result of limitations in measurement technology but rather a fundamental property of quantum systems. The essence is that certain aspects of particles, such as electrons, can't be pinned down with absolute precision. This has profound implications in the microscopic world, influencing how we understand everything from the flow of electrons in materials to light behaving both as waves and as particles.
Bohr Model
The Bohr model is a historical scientific model of the atom introduced by Niels Bohr in 1913. It improved upon the earlier Rutherford model by incorporating quantum theory elements. In this model:
  • Electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed, circular orbits known as electron shells or energy levels.
  • Each orbit corresponds to a specific energy level, with the lowest energy levels closest to the nucleus.

The Bohr model was revolutionary because it explained why atoms emitted light in fixed wavelengths, something classical physics couldn't explain. However, it's important to note that the Bohr model is now largely obsolete; it has been replaced by the more comprehensive quantum mechanical model of the atom, which better captures the complex behaviors of atoms and their electrons.
Despite its limitations, the Bohr model was a significant step forward in atomic theory, providing a foundation for further developments in quantum mechanics.
Electron Momentum
Electron momentum is a critical concept in understanding electron dynamics. Momentum, in a classical sense, is defined as the product of mass and velocity. In the quantum realm:
  • The exact momentum of an electron can't be determined without introducing uncertainty in its position, as highlighted by Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.
  • In fixed orbits, like those described by the Bohr model, momentum can be calculated as \( p = \frac{h}{\lambda} \), where \( \lambda = 2\pi r \) represents the orbit's circumference.

This equation highlights the wave-particle duality of electrons, a core idea in quantum mechanics, where particles display both particle-like and wave-like properties. The calculated momentum of an electron in a specific orbit helps in understanding its energy state and other physical characteristics.
The interplay between its wave and particle characteristics is subtle and complex but vital for technologies like electron microscopy and semiconductors.
Reduced Planck's Constant
The reduced Planck's constant, \( \hbar \), is an essential factor in quantum mechanics equations, particularly in the relation defined by Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. It is defined as:
  • \( \hbar = \frac{h}{2\pi} \)
  • It approximately equals \( 1.0545718 \times 10^{-34} \mathrm{~Js} \).

The reduced Planck's constant simplifies many quantum mechanical equations. For instance, it appears in the equations governing wave functions and energy levels. It bridges the gap between the full Planck's constant and the geometry of circular motion, as wave phenomena are often described in terms of circles or cycles.
Understanding \( \hbar \) is crucial because it encapsulates the quantization characteristic inherent in the fundamental particles and fields of the universe. It represents the "quantum" in quantum mechanics, indicating how energy is quantized and highlighting the tiny scales at which quantum mechanics operates.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Ion microscopes. Just as electron microscopes make use of the wave properties of electrons, ion microscopes use the wave properties of atomic ions, such as helium ions \(\left(\mathrm{He}^{+}\right),\) to image materials. A helium ion has a mass 7300 times that of an electron. In a typical helium ion microscope, helium ions are accelerated by a high voltage of \(10-50 \mathrm{kV}\) and focused on the material to be imaged. At these energies, the ions don't travel very far into the material being imaged, so this type of microscope is used primarily for surface imaging of biological structures. A different method of imaging has been proposed that is sensitive to the entire thickness of the material. This method uses helium ions with much greater energies (in the MeV range), which can pass all the way through biological samples such as cells. In this second type of ion microscope, the energy lost as the ion beam passes through different parts of a cell can be measured and related to the distribution of material in the cell, with thicker parts of the cell causing greater energy loss. How does the wavelength of a helium ion compare to that of an electron accelerated through the same potential difference? A. The helium ion has a longer wavelength because of its greater mass. B. The helium ion has a shorter wavelength because of its greater mass. C. The wavelengths are the same because the kinetic energy is the same. D. The wavelengths are the same because the electric charge is the same.

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