Always calculating Fermi energy incorrectly

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the incorrect calculation of Fermi energy using the equations ##E_f = \frac{h^2 k_f^2}{2m}## and ##k_f = (3 \pi^2n)^{\frac{1}{3}}##. The user consistently arrives at an incorrect result of 128 eV instead of the expected 3.2 eV, attributing the discrepancy to a potential error in unit conversion or constant values. The primary mistake identified is the use of Planck's constant (h) instead of the reduced Planck's constant (ħ) in the calculations, which is crucial for accurate results in quantum mechanics.

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sa1988
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Homework Statement



This isn't really a homework question but I didn't know where to put it.

Homework Equations



##E_f = \frac{h^2 k_f^2}{2m}##
##k_f = (3 \pi^2n)^{\frac{1}{3}}##

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm going through a lot of examples and every time I punch the numbers in I get an incorrect result.

For example, I'm looking at the below solution, which has come from a typical 'find the Fermi energy' question. The image shows the final stage of the problem, where n has been found and all that's left to do is plug it into the given Fermi energy equation.
2jbqm28.jpg


However my attempt comes out like so:

##E_f = \frac{\hbar^2 k_f^2}{2m} = \frac{\hbar^2(3\pi^2 2.65*10^28)^{\frac{2}{3}}}{2m} = \frac{(6.63*10^{-34})^2(3\pi^2*2.65*10^{28})^{\frac{2}{3}}}{2*9.1*10^{-31}} = 2.05*10^{-17}##

##\frac{2.05*10^{-17}}{1.6*10^{-19}}= 128eV##

## \neq 3.2eV##

What's going wrong? I'm making a similar mistake on every Fermi Energy problem I do. The one common error I'm noticing is that my answers always seem to be out be a factor of ##10^{-2}##

Where is the glaring, basic textbook error I'm making here? Something to do with using the correct units? An incorrect value for one of the constants? I think I need a second pair of eyes to look this over for me.

Thanks for any help.
 
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You're using the value for ##h##, not ##\hbar##.
 
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vela said:
You're using the value for ##h##, not ##\hbar##.

:headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang::headbang:

Thanks :oldbiggrin:
 

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