Experiment 15: Potential Energy Diagrams and Potential Wells

Potential Energy Diagrams:


 1.       The range of motion is between -5 and 5 cm.

2. The particle does not have enough kinetic energy to pass through that boundary.

3.     There is a higher probability of finding the particle from -5 to 0 cm because it has a higher potential energy on that side.



4.      The range of motion increases when the energy is doubled.



5.    The graph is an inverted parabola.



6.    The particles will be most likely found at the ends where the boundaries are located.



Potential Wells:

1. E = 2.1 * 10^6 eV
 

2. 4(2.1MeV) = 8.4 MeV for infinite well but not for finite well

3. In the infinite well it is has larger energy in its first excited state because it has a shorter wavelength than in the finite well

4.

When the potential energy is decreased, the total energy of the n = 3 state decreases as well because the U(x) function decreases the area the particle can be in and the wavelength decreases.

5.

The penetration depth decreases as the mass increases. This is because the mass is becoming measurable and cannot travel in to the forbidden region.