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allanm1
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"Particle in a box" question
The solution of Schrodingers equation for the simple "particle in a box" problem is:
E = (n^2)(h^2) / 8m(L^2)
where L = the length of the box.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/particle_in_a_box"
Say that the initial energy of the particle is E1.
If at a later time the length of the box is changed (a moveable wall), then there are now a completely new set of possible energies available, for n=1,2,3 etc. What if none of these new allowed energies equals the original energy of the particle?
What happens to the energy difference?
The solution of Schrodingers equation for the simple "particle in a box" problem is:
E = (n^2)(h^2) / 8m(L^2)
where L = the length of the box.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/particle_in_a_box"
Say that the initial energy of the particle is E1.
If at a later time the length of the box is changed (a moveable wall), then there are now a completely new set of possible energies available, for n=1,2,3 etc. What if none of these new allowed energies equals the original energy of the particle?
What happens to the energy difference?
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