most difficult part of the assignment
Definitely the section on the time-independent Schroedinger equation. I have always struggled with the Schroe eqn and what exactly it means - ie how it is able to explain everything about the wavefunction. I have never really understood how you 'find solutions' to it.
Similarly, the following section on eigenfunctions was a bit confusing, and I always seem to need a refresher course in eigenvalues each time I learn about them.
most interesting part of the assignment
The fact that the systems mentioned can be explained by one equation, and that even though I still find it very complicated, the simplicity of it all (once I get my head around the maths) is quite astonishing. The Schrow can be simplified down to just a set of ODEs, and some parts of it can actually be compared to the classical wave equation even though it relies so heavily on quantum mechanics.
I found section 5 to be very hard to understand, but am determined to get my head around it all before the semester has a chance to let me fall behind! Some research may also have to be done on PDEs and ODEs so i can cope with some of the maths a bit easier.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Reading Assignment 1
Most difficult part of the material
Primarrily understanding why the reduced mass is used for an electron. The book says "it is not difficult to show that in such a planetary like system the electron moves relative to the nucleus as though the nucleus were fixed and the mass m of the electron were slightly reduced" (pg 105)
I still do not completely understand the 'series limit' in the atomic spectra section, however will review it again soon.
Most interesting part of the material
The Bohr model seemed much more complicated than when I first studied it, however on closer inspection it appears the book just words it in such a way that I found difficult to understand. The extra detail regarding the Lyman, Balmer and Paschen series was valuable and I coped with this section quite easily.
After doing some chemistry previously, I found the the Atomic Spectra section the most interesting, particularly regarding spectroscopy. Would like to know more about its uses. Bohrs postulates were easily explained and found it interesting how they mix classical physics with non-classical (such as the quantisation of angular momentum).
Primarrily understanding why the reduced mass is used for an electron. The book says "it is not difficult to show that in such a planetary like system the electron moves relative to the nucleus as though the nucleus were fixed and the mass m of the electron were slightly reduced" (pg 105)
I still do not completely understand the 'series limit' in the atomic spectra section, however will review it again soon.
Most interesting part of the material
The Bohr model seemed much more complicated than when I first studied it, however on closer inspection it appears the book just words it in such a way that I found difficult to understand. The extra detail regarding the Lyman, Balmer and Paschen series was valuable and I coped with this section quite easily.
After doing some chemistry previously, I found the the Atomic Spectra section the most interesting, particularly regarding spectroscopy. Would like to know more about its uses. Bohrs postulates were easily explained and found it interesting how they mix classical physics with non-classical (such as the quantisation of angular momentum).
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