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Quantum-ProblemSet 2

The document discusses four problems related to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. Problem 1 calculates the minimum uncertainties in position for objects with known speed uncertainties. Problem 2 determines the minimum uncertainty in velocity for an electron confined in a box. Problem 3 finds the percentage uncertainty in momentum if an electron's position is known within 1 Angstrom. Problem 4 calculates the minimum error in measuring the energy of a hydrogen atom in an excited state with a given lifetime.

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Krishanu Chatterjee
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150 views5 pages

Quantum-ProblemSet 2

The document discusses four problems related to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. Problem 1 calculates the minimum uncertainties in position for objects with known speed uncertainties. Problem 2 determines the minimum uncertainty in velocity for an electron confined in a box. Problem 3 finds the percentage uncertainty in momentum if an electron's position is known within 1 Angstrom. Problem 4 calculates the minimum error in measuring the energy of a hydrogen atom in an excited state with a given lifetime.

Uploaded by

Krishanu Chatterjee
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Problems on Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle

Sucheta Adhikari
Physics Department, Techno India University

Problem 1. Determine the minimum uncertainties in the positions of the following objects if their speeds are known with
a precision of 1.0×10−3m/s : (a) an electron and (b) a bowling ball of mass 6.0 kg.

ℎ
Solution: The uncertainty principle states that, ∆𝑥∆𝑝 ≥
2𝜋

Where Dx and Dp are the uncertainties of the position and momentum. In the above problem, we have been asked to
calculate the uncertainty in the position and the precision of the speed is given. The precision of the speed is the
uncertainty in the speed and from that we have to calculate the uncertainty in momentum using the value of the mass.
In case (a) we know the mass of an electron and in case (b) the mass of the ball is given.
(a) For electron, 𝑚 = 9.1 × 10 𝑘𝑔
h = 6.626 × 10 kg-m2/s
∆ v = 1 × 10 𝑚/𝑠

∴ ∆𝑝 = 𝑚 × ∆𝑣
= 9.1 × 10 × 1 × 10 kg-m/s
= 9.1 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠

ℎ ℎ
Now, we have to use the uncertainty principle, i.e., ∆𝑥∆𝑝 ≥ and, ∆𝑥 ≥
2𝜋 2𝜋∆𝑝

6.626 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚 /𝑠
∴ ∆𝑥 ≥ ∆𝑥 ≥ 0.116 𝑚
2 × 3.14 × 9.1 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠

(b) For the ball use m = 6.0 kg and repeat the same process as done in the case of electron. You will get,

∆𝑝 = 6 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠 and, ∆𝑥 ≥ 1.76 × 10 𝑚


Problem 2. Calculate the minimum uncertainty in the velocity of an electron confined to a box of 10-8 m length.

Solution. In this problem the electron is confined in a box. So, it can be anywhere within the box and we don’t know the
exact position of the electron. It can be anywhere within the box. Therefore, the size of the box will be the maximum
uncertainty of its position.

ℎ
Now, we have to use the uncertainty principle, i.e., ∆𝑥∆𝑝 ≥
2𝜋

It is obvious from the uncertainty principle that when uncertainty in position is maximum the uncertainty in momentum
will be minimum.
∆𝑥 = 10 𝑚

𝑚
ℎ 6.626 × 10 𝑘𝑔
∴ ∆𝑝 ≥ = 𝑠 = 1.055 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠
2𝜋 ∆𝑥 2 × 3.14 × 10 𝑚

∴ The minimum uncertainty in velocity is


𝑚
∆𝑝 1.055 × 10 𝑘𝑔 𝑠
∴ ∆𝑣 = = = 1.16 × 10 𝑚/𝑠 ∵ ∆𝑝 = 𝑚 × ∆𝑣
𝑚 9.1 × 10 𝑘𝑔
Problem 3. The position and momentum of 2.0 keV electron are simultaneously measured. If the position is located within
1Å, what is the percentage of uncertainty in momentum?

Solution: In this problem we have to calculate the percentage of uncertainty in momentum, not just the uncertainty in
momentum. That means we have to calculate both p and Dp. Since the electron is located within 1Å, this is the
uncertainty in the position (Dx), and using the uncertainty principle we can calculate Dp from Dx. Also, the energy (E) of
the electron is given. So, we will calculate the value of momentum p from the given energy.

ℎ ℎ h = 6.626 × 10 kg-m2/s
∆𝑥∆𝑝 ≥ and, ∆𝑝 ≥ ∆ x = 1 Å = 10 𝑚
2𝜋 2𝜋∆𝑥 E = 2keV = 2000 eV

6.626 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚 /𝑠
∴ ∆𝑝 ≥ ∆𝑝 ≥ 1.05 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠
2 × 3.14 × 10 𝑚

Now we will calculate p using the formula, 𝑝 = 2𝑚𝐸 [Derived in the problem set given last week]

𝑝= 2 × 9.1 × 10 𝑘𝑔 × 2000 × 1.6 × 10 𝑘𝑔𝑚 /𝑠 [∵ 1eV=1.6 ×10-19J]

𝑝 = 2.41 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠
∆𝑝 1.05 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠
∴ Percentage uncertainty is, × 100% = × 100% = 4.36%
𝑝 2.41 × 10 𝑘𝑔 − 𝑚/𝑠
Problem 4. An excited state of a hydrogen atom has a lifetime of 2.5 × 10-15 s. What is the minimum error possible in the
measurement of energy of this state ?

Solution: In the above problem the uncertainty in time (t) of the excited state is given and we have to calculate the
uncertainty in the Energy (E). Therefore we have to use the uncertainty principle which involves energy and time i.e.,

ℎ ℎ
∆𝐸∆𝑡 ≥ Therefore, ∆𝐸 ≥
2𝜋 2𝜋∆𝑡

h = 6.626 × 10 J-s
∆ t = 2.5 × 10 𝑠

6.626 × 10 𝐽−𝑠
∴ ∆𝐸 ≥ ∆𝐸 = 4.22 × 10 𝐽
2 × 3.14 × 2.5 × 10 𝑠

4.22 × 10
[∵ 1eV=1.6 ×10-19J] 𝐸= = 2.635 × 10 𝑒𝑉 = 0.2635 𝑒𝑉
1.6 × 10

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