Does an electron have a continous range of energies?

AI Thread Summary
Electrons do not have a continuous range of energies; their energy levels are quantized, particularly in bound systems like atoms. The solution to Schrödinger's equation provides the wave functions that describe the probability distributions of an electron's position and energy levels. In free space, electrons can exhibit a range of energies, but in bound states, such as within an atom, they occupy discrete energy levels. The concept of energy bands in solid-state physics illustrates how electrons can have continuous energy ranges in certain conditions, like in conduction bands. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping quantum mechanics and electron behavior.
melissajohn
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
i have two questions...


does an electron have a continuous range of energies? I think the answer is no. am i right?

and also... what does the solution of the schrodinger's equation provide?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


melissajohn said:
i have two questions...


does an electron have a continuous range of energies? I think the answer is no. am i right?

and also... what does the solution of the schrodinger's equation provide?

I think you have a severe misunderstanding of how something can acquire energy. The energy of any electron (or any particle for that matter) depends on where it is, or what situation it is in. The energy of the emitted electrons out of a photo electric effect experiment is certainly NOT discrete. Look at any photoemission experiment. This is because the conduction band is, by definition of a "band", is continuous.

Zz.
 
Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

So here is the motional EMF formula. Now I understand the standard Faraday paradox that an axis symmetric field source (like a speaker motor ring magnet) has a magnetic field that is frame invariant under rotation around axis of symmetry. The field is static whether you rotate the magnet or not. So far so good. What puzzles me is this , there is a term average magnetic flux or "azimuthal mean" , this term describes the average magnetic field through the area swept by the rotating Faraday...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Is the Poynting Vector Field the Only Factor in Energy Flow in Circuits?
Replies
16
Views
3K
I Understanding dissipation of energy in a resistor through the Drude model
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Do valence electrons determine electrical conductivity?
Replies
1
Views
3K
Energy Density of Electric Fields: Is it the Sum of All Electrons?
Replies
7
Views
2K
Thomson scattering -- Photons can only scatter from free electrons?
Replies
18
Views
2K
Total energy of free electron gas
Replies
1
Views
3K
Identical Wires with different voltage--does electron behavior differ?
Replies
19
Views
2K
Electromagnetic mass of an electron
Replies
3
Views
2K
Poynting vector and single electron in free space
Replies
8
Views
2K
A Can cooling enhance the monochromaticity of an electron beam?
Replies
13
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top