Physics 137A

Spring 2014
University of California at Berkeley

Midterm 2
April 14, 2014, 7-9pm, 1 LeConte
120minutes  50points
Problem 1  Sequential Measurements (Modified Griffiths Problem 3.27)
7points

An operator A, corresponding to an observable , has two normalized eigenstates |1 i and |2 i, with eigenvalues a1 and
corresponding to another observable , has two normalized eigenstates |1 i and |2 i, with
a2 . An operator B,
eigenvalues b1 and b2 . The eigenstate are related by:
|1 i =

3
4
|1 i + |2 i ,
5
5

|2 i =

4
3
|1 i |2 i .
5
5

 A  Observable is measured and value b1 is obtained. What is the state of the system after this measurement?
 B  If observable is subsequently measured, and then is measured again, what is the probability that the value b1
is obtained the second time is measured?
Problem 2  Harmonic Oscillator VS Hydrogen Atom Ground State

12points

 A  Show that 0 (r) ear is a solution of the Schrodinger equation for the harmonic oscillator, provided that
a = m
2
h . Find the corresponding ground state energy E0 . Normalize the wave function.
 B  Show that 1 (r) ebr is a solution of the Schrodinger equation for the hydrogen atom, provided that
2
b = mke
= a10 , where a0 is the Bohr radius. Find the corresponding ground state energy E1 . Normalize the wave
h
2
function.
 C  If we move along, say, the x-axis, there is a kink (a discontinuity in slope) in the hydrogen atom ground state
1 (r) on passing through the origin. Why (physically) is there one here but not for the harmonic oscillator 0 (r)?
Problem 3  Hydrogen Atom Ground States
A hydrogen atom is in its ground state just like in Problem 2 B.

20points

 A  If space is divided into identical infinitesimal cubes, in which cube is the electron most likely to be found?
 B  If instead space is divided into shells of infinitesimal thickness, like the layers of an onion, centered on the proton,
what is the radius of the shell in which the electron is most likely to be found?
 C  Calculate the mean radius of hydrogen atom hri?
 D  Calculate the mean value of the potential energy V (r).
 E  What is the mean value of the kinetic energy T ? (No calculation needed here!)
Problem 4  Measuring Electrons Spin (Griffiths Problem 4.49)
An electron at rest is in the spin state given by the spinor


1 2i
|i = N
2


 
1
0
in the standard basis of eigenstates of Sz with spin up |i =
and spin down |i =
.
0
1

11points

 A  Determine the constant N by normalizing |i.

 B  If you measured Sz on this electron, what values could you get, and what is the probability of each? What is the
expectation value of Sz ?
 C  If you measured Sx on this electron, what values could you get, and what is the probability of each? What is the
expectation value of Sx ?
 D  If you measured Sy on this electron, what values could you get, and what is the probability of each? What is the
expectation value of Sy ?

Mathematical Formulas
Trigonometry:
sin(a b) = sin a cos b cos a sin b
cos(a b) = cos a cos b sin a sin b
Law of cosines:
c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos
Integrals:
Z
x sin(ax) dx =

x
1
sin(ax) cos(ax)
a2
a

x cos(ax) dx =

x
1
cos(ax) + sin(ax)
2
a
a

Z
Exponential integrals:

xn ex/a dx = n! an+1

Gaussian integrals:

x2n ex

/a2

dx =

x2n+1 ex

/a2

(2n)!  a 2n+1
n!
2

dx =

n! 2n+2
a
2

Integration by parts:
Z
a

dg
dx =
f
dx

Z
a

b

df
g dx + f g 
dx
a

Fundamental Equations
Schr
odinger equation:
ih

= H
t

Time-independent Schr
odinger equation:
= E, = eiEt/h
H
Hamiltonian operator:





 2 
2
h2 2
h2 1

2
= p + V =
H
+V =
r
+
sin

+
+V
2m
2m
2m r2 r
r
r2 sin

r2 sin2 2
Momentum operator:

px = ih x
, py = ih y
, pz = ih z

Time dependence of an expectation value:

dhQi
i D E
=
[H, Q] +
dt
h

Q
t

Generalized uncertainty principle:

 D
E
1


[A, B] 
A B 
2i
Canonical commutator:
[
x, px ] = ih, [
y , py ] = ih, [
z , pz ] = ih

Angular momentum:
x, L
y ] = i
z , [L
y, L
z ] = ihL
x , [L
z, L
x ] = ihL
y
[L
hL
Pauli matrices:

x =

0
1

1
0


,

y =

0
i

i
0


,

z =

1
0

0
1

= +13.6 eV