Observables of position and momentum have a continuous spectrum

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept that certain dynamical variables, such as position and momentum, are not quantized, as explained in Arthur Beiser's "Concepts of Modern Physics." Specifically, it highlights that measurements of these variables yield a continuous spectrum of values rather than discrete outcomes. The expectation value of a non-quantized observable is calculated using the formula =<\psi|G|\psi>, where the wavefunction's probability density |psi|^2 describes the likelihood of finding an electron in a hydrogen atom at various positions.

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could someone explain this paragraph taken from "concepts of modern physics" by arthur beiser pg175? I'm having trouble understanding it...

"A dynamical variable G may not be quantized. In this case, measurements of G made on a number of identical systems will not yield a unique result but instead a spread of values whose average is the expectation value
<G>=(integrate) G(psi^2)dx"

and why if the electron's position in the hydrogen atom isn't quantized, we have to think of the electron in the vicinity of the nuvleus with a ceratian probability?
 
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Some physical observables can take on discrete (quantized) values, like the energy of a particle in an infinite potential well, harmonic oscillator, or the energy of the electron in an hydrogen atom. In this case the eigenvalue-spectrum of the corresponding observable is discrete. This is not always the case though. The observables of position and momentum have a continuous spectrum (ie, not quantized).
The expectation value is calculated the same way as with any observable:
[tex]<G>=<\psi|G|\psi>[/tex]

So the position of the electron in a hydrogen atom in not quantized (it's after all described by a continuous wavefunction) and thus given by a probability density |psi|^2
 
thank you very much for explaining!:)
 

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