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jimmypoopins
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Homework Statement
The covalent bond between the two protons in the H2 molecule can be modeled by a harmonic spring with a spring constant k = 1100 N/m.
a. What is the zero point energy of the H2 molecule as a harmonic oscillator?
b. What is the energy of the first excited state?
[tex]m_{p}=1.6726*10^-27 kg[/tex]
[tex]k=1100N/m[/tex]
Homework Equations
[tex]m=\frac{m_{p}}{2}[/tex]
[tex]\omega=\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}[/tex]
[tex]E=(n+\frac{1}{2})\hbar\omega[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
[tex]\omega=\sqrt{\frac{1200}{8.363*10^-28}[/tex]
a. [tex]E_{0}=\frac{1}{2}\hbar\omega=6.047J*10^-20J[/tex] this is CORRECT
b. ??[tex]E_{1}=\frac{3}{2}\hbar\omega=1.814*10^-19J[/tex] ?? this is INCORRECT
i don't understand why b. is incorrect but a. is correct. i thought the only difference would be the number for n. what am i doing wrong? can anyone help please?
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