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Quelsita
Oct13-08, 11:01 AM
An atom in a crystal lattice can be regarded as having a mass of 2.0E-26 kg attched to a spring. The frequency of this oscillator is 1.0E13 Hz. What is the amplitude of oscillation if the energy of oscillation is one energy quantum?

I know E=nhv, here n=1
so the energy of oscillation=> E=1h(1.0E13 Hz)= 6.626E-21 J

How does this relate to amplitude? (Energy is proportional to A^2?)
How does the mass of the atom affect this?

alphysicist
Oct13-08, 10:16 PM
Hi Quelsita,

If it is modelled as a spring, then yes, the total energy is proportional to the square of the amplitude. But what is the explicit relationship for a spring?