Calculating Quantum Number n for a Mass Moving in an Infinite Square Well

[UrbanXrisis]

a mass of 10^-6 grams is moving at a speed of 0.1 cm/s in a box 1 cm in length. Treating this as a 1-D infinite square well, i am to calculate the quantum number n:

i was wondering if I am setting this up correct:
\frac{1}{2} * 10^{-6 }g * 0.1 cm/s = \frac{n^2 \pi^2 \hbar ^2}{2*10^{-6 }g * 1cm^2}

 

[Meir Achuz]

Just use v^2 on the LHS.

 

[UrbanXrisis]

so E= \frac{n^2 \pi^2 \hbar ^2}{2mL}
is really kinetic energy?

 

[topsquark]

so E= \frac{n^2 \pi^2 \hbar ^2}{2mL}
is really kinetic energy?

Not exactly. E = T + V. But since this is an infinite square well and the region you have has V defined as zero...

-Dan