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FatPhysicsBoy
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Homework Statement
The ground state of the hydrogen atom has the wavefunction: [itex]\psi (r) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi}} (\frac{1}{a_{0}})^{\frac{3}{2}} e^{-r/a_{0}}[/itex], where [itex]a_{0} = 0.53Å[/itex]
a) Calculate the probability that an electron will be found inside the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, which is assumed to be [itex]10^{-15} m[/itex] in radius.
Homework Equations
[itex]P(r) = \int_{0}^{10^{-15m}}\psi^{*}(r)\psi(r) dr[/itex]
[itex]P_{nl}(r) = \int_{r}^{r+dr}R_{nl}^{*}(r) R_{nl}(r) 4\pi r^{2} dr[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Okay, so I tried solving this problem using the first integral above and got something ridiculous so had a bit of a read and remembered something about a volume element in the integral for the probability density. I suppose I was only considering a plane slice or something.
Anyway, I'm having trouble understanding where the second integral comes from (I got it out of a book), in particular the factor of [itex]4\pi r^{2}[/itex] in the integral. So looking at it I'm guessing the R's refer to the radial part of the wavefunction in spherical coordinates which is the same as the first integral since it's [itex]\psi (r)[/itex]. Now the book says that the factor of [itex]4\pi r^{2}[/itex] is present because the volume enclosed between spheres of radius [itex]r[/itex] and [itex]r + dr[/itex] is given by that factor, however I can't figure it out! I've tried calculating the volume of two spheres of radius [itex]r[/itex] and [itex]r + dr[/itex] respectively and it feels like I'm sort of close but I can't get to it!
Can anyone explain to me what it's doing there, the books explanation makes intuitive sense when you picture what you're integrating over but I don't understand how that is equivalent to this factor in the integral!
Thank you!