Electron in a box. Finding the length of the box. (infinite well)

AI Thread Summary
To find the length of a one-dimensional box confining an electron, the energy difference between two adjacent allowed states is used. The equation ΔE = E2 - E1 = (n²h²π²)/(2ml²) relates energy levels to the box length. The challenge arises from the lack of specific energy levels, making it difficult to directly calculate the box length. A suggested approach is to express n2 as n1 + 1 and create a system of equations to solve for the length. This method allows for the determination of the box length despite the missing explicit energy levels.
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Homework Statement



An electron is confined in a one-dimensional box (an infinite well). Two adjacent allowed energies of the electron are 1.068 × 10-18 J and 1.352 × 10-18 J. What is the length of the box? (h = 6.626 × 10-34 J · s, mass of electron = 9.11 × 10-31 kg)

Homework Equations


\Delta E = E_2-E_1 = \dfrac{n^2h^2\pi^2}{2ml^2}

n = energy level, h =Planck's constant, m = effective mass, l is the length of the box.

The Attempt at a Solution


I am having a lot of trouble with this problem because they do not give the energy levels the electron moves between. They only say that they are "adjacent".

If they were given I see the length would be

l = \sqrt{\dfrac{h^2\pi^2}{2m\Delta E} (n^2_2-n^2_1)}

but without knowing n_1 or n_2 I am stuck.
 
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try writing n2 as n1 + 1 and forming a system of equations
 
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