# Potential energy of electron

It is known that the potential energy of electron in the hydrogen atom is completely definite quantity, for given point . How we can measure it?

## Answers and Replies

Meir Achuz
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Gold Member
"How we can measure it?" You can't place an electron at point r to measure
-e^2/r, but there are other ways to measure that V=-e^2/r is correct.
It leads to the experimental BE and energy levels of hydrogen and to the correct experimental e-p scattering.
This can be considered a measurement that V= -e^2/r is correct.

Can you post me some links for this problem.
What is BE? May be Bose-Einstein?
How we can solve Schrodinger equation which have given wave function , but unknown pot. energy?
Thanks!

cepheid
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
How we can solve Schrodinger equation which have given wave function , but unknown pot. energy?
Thanks!

I'm no expert on QM, but isn't the answer to this question simply, "you...can't!" I mean, if the Hamiltonian is not fully-defined, then you can't solve for its eigenstates.

Last edited:
Eigenstates are known. Unknown is only U(x).

jtbell
Mentor
What is BE?

I think Meir means "binding energy", that is, measurements of the ionization energies of hydrogen atoms.

Thanks!
Of course, it's "binding energy". I didn't guess right.