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

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the length of a one-dimensional infinite potential well containing an electron, given two adjacent energy levels: 1.068 × 10-18 J and 1.352 × 10-18 J. The relevant equation used is ΔE = E2 - E1 = (n2h2π2) / (2ml2), where h is Planck's constant (6.626 × 10-34 J·s) and m is the mass of the electron (9.11 × 10-31 kg). The solution involves expressing the energy levels in terms of their quantum numbers, leading to the formula for length: l = √((h2π2) / (2mΔE)(n22 - n12)).

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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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