Kinetic Energy of a Rotating Water Molecule

dgreenheck
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When calculating the kinetic energy of a rotating water molecule (translational and vibrational motion not important here), am I correct in assuming that you do all the calculations from the center of mass and analyze each axis of rotation (x,y,z)? The bent geometry is throwing me off! Any molecule would rotate about its center of mass wouldn't it?
 
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Yes, it would. I'd start by finding where the center of mass of the molecule is.
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'

Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'

This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
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Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'

Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'

The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
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