Quantum Oscillator: Pendulum Energy Differences & Observability

GreenLRan
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Homework Statement



Assuming a pendulum to behave like a quantum oscillator, what are the energy differences between the quantum states of a pendulum of length 1m? Are such differences observable?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



would the energy differences just be 1 since for each energy state n you have E_n=(n+1/2)h_bar*sqrt(k/m)? This would not be observable either since these are such low energies... correct?
 
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Compare E_n to E_n+1
 
I think they want you to calculate the energy in joules.
 
But wouldn't they have provide him with the mass of the pendulum?
in his statement they only gave him the length , I think it's like robb said , a comparison between E_n and E_n+1
 
No they don't, it's a pendulum in harmonic oscillation, so you can say its angular frequency is simply sqrt(g/L), then solve for (1/2)hw
 

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