Expectation Values of x & p for Wavefunction u(x,0)

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 2K views
Geocentric
Messages
15
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A particle is represented(at t=0) by the wavefunction

u(x,0) = A(a^2 - x^2) if -a<x<a
= 0 otherwise
Determine <x> & <p>.
It is given in the book that in this case <p> [tex]\neq[/tex] m*d/dt<x>. Could someone please tell me the reason for this?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org
because if you use <p> = m d<x>/dt, you would determine the expectation value of the momentum via that of x.
But <p> is given only by ∫u p u* dx - it's a definition.
 
Last edited:
Rick88 said:
because if you use <p> = m d<x>/dt, you would determine the expectation value of the momentum via that of x.
But <p> is given only by ∫u p u* dx - it's a definition.

What I don't understand is that according to Ehrenfest theorem,
<p> = m* d/dt<x>
Why is this not true in this case?
 
How does your book DEFINE p mathematically?
 
The integral is just the definition of <p>.
p and <p> are not the same thing, so you can't use the formula for p to find <p>.