The potential tag has no wiki summary.
14
votes
6answers
947 views
Why can we treat quantum scattering problems as time-independent?
From what I remember in my undergraduate quantum mechanics class, we treated scattering of non-relativistic particles from a static potential like this:
Solve the time-independent Schrodinger ...
20
votes
4answers
756 views
In quantum mechanics, given certain energy spectrum can one generate the corresponding potential?
A typical problem in quantum mechanics is to calculate the spectrum that corresponds to a given potential.
Is there a one to one correspondence between the potential and its spectrum?
If the ...
8
votes
8answers
3k views
What is the difference between electric potential, voltage and electromotive force?
This is a confused part ever since I started learning electricity. What is the difference between voltage and electromotive force (emf)? Both of them have the same SI unit, right? I would appreciate ...
1
vote
1answer
316 views
Schrödinger function: Separable wave function with even potential function of x
I have done the Problem 2.1 in Griffiths' quantum mechanics,
and it seems not making sense to me.
What if the wave function isn't symmetric at all?
Then obviously the proof doesn't work. The ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Current against the inverse of resistance graph, $I = V/R +c$
If I have a plot of current ($y$ axis) against 1/Resistance ($x$ axis).
The circuit it is measured from is a simply 2 resistors connected in parallel to battery, where the potential across the ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Would you die if you put your hands on a powerline?
You know how birds perch on powerlines without getting electrocuted? What if by some chance that I find myself falling and I grab on one of them? Let's say both of my hands are on the same line, would ...
2
votes
2answers
704 views
Electric potential due to a point charge in Gaussian/CGS units
I learned electrostatics in SI units. In SI, the electrostatic potential due to a point charge $q$ located at $\textbf{r}$ is given by
$\Phi(\textbf{r}) = \frac{q}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 |\textbf{r}|}$.
...
7
votes
1answer
549 views
3D Delta Potential Well
The 1D delta potential well $V(x) = -A\delta(x - a)$ always has exactly one bound state. The same is true for the 3D delta potential well $V(\vec{r}) = -A\delta(\vec{r}-\vec{a})$. I can show this for ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
Infinitely charged wire and Differential form of Gauss' Law
I have tried calculating the potential of a charged wire the direct way. If lambda is the charge density of the wire, then I get
$$\phi(r) = \frac{\lambda}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r} \int_{-\infty}^\infty ...
3
votes
6answers
328 views
Electrostatic Potential Energy Derivation
How is the boxed step , physically as well as mathematically justified and correct ?
Source:Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_potential_energy
As work done = $- \Delta U $. for Conservative ...
2
votes
2answers
276 views
Plotting $\psi$ for finite square well potential
Lets say we have a finite square potential well like below:
This well has a $\psi$ which we can combine with $\psi_I$, $\psi_{II}$ and $\psi_{III}$. I have been playing around and got expressions ...
2
votes
4answers
708 views
How does instant charging of one plate affect the potential of the other plate of a floating capacitor?
If I have an uncharged floating capacitor and I instantaneously connect one plate to some potential, then that plate will acquire some charge. In practice, the other floating plate will ...
1
vote
1answer
260 views
Force exerted on potential wall
A particle bound in an infinite potential wall at $x=0$ will apply a force on the wall. For a plane wave and imagining it as a fluid bouncing off the reflection wall at $x=0$, find the force in terms ...
5
votes
2answers
267 views
Why do we like gauge potentials so much?
Today I read articles and texts about Dirac monopoles and I have been wondering about the insistence on gauge potentials. Why do they seem (or why are they) so important to create a theory about ...
4
votes
1answer
121 views
Loopless voltage measurement
I think we are all very well familiarized with the classical voltmeter. Classical voltmeter has two conducting wires that bring two potentials into the box. In the box we have well controlled ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
How does electricity flow in conductor when potential difference is applied?
Electrons move from higher potential to lower potential. When a conductor is connected to battery, electron move from negative terminal to positive terminal.
But the battery itself forms a Electric ...
2
votes
3answers
204 views
Why can't we ascribe a (possibly velocity dependent) potential to a dissipative force?
Sorry if this is a silly question but I cant get my head around it.
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Origin of field deduced from potential
Related: Tubelights+power lines pictures?
I would've edited this into the above question, but I realized that there' enough to it to qualify as a new one. Plus this seems to be a confusion of ...
1
vote
1answer
977 views
How to calculate the charge and the potential across a charged capacitor charging an uncharged capacitor?
Initially, there is a single capacitor $A$ attached to a power source that charges it to a certain voltage $V$. Once it is charged, it is instantaneously removed and placed in a circuit with an ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
Wave equations for two intervals at Potential step
Lets say we have a potential step as in the picture:
In the region I there is a free particle with a wavefunction $\psi_I$ while in the region II the wave function will be $\psi_{II}$.
Let me ...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Is it possible to charge a capacitor to any potential? Does it depend on the dielectric placed between them?
Is it possible to charge a capacitor to any potential? Does it depend on the dielectric placed between them? Or, are there other factors affecting it?
0
votes
1answer
82 views
a positive potential as $ x \rightarrow \infty $
let us suppose i can calculate the asymptotic of any potential $ V(x) $ in one dimension , and that i manage to prove that $ V(x) \ge 0 $ as $ x \rightarrow \infty $
could i conclude taht if or big ...
0
votes
2answers
205 views
Does the potential energy related to a particle determines its rest mass?
Would it be possible to determine the rest mass of a particle by computing the potential energy related to the presence (existence) of the particle, if this potential energy could be determined ...
0
votes
1answer
178 views
Tubelights+power lines pictures?
I've come across many pictures like these, sometimes in chain emails reporting the dangers of power lines.
Another claim is that they run on "wasted" energy.
The explanations given are that the ...
-1
votes
2answers
140 views
Show that the energy levels of a particle in a specific potential are $E_n=(n+\frac{1}{2})h\omega-\frac{1}{2}\frac{F^2}{m\omega^2}$ [closed]
A particle of mass m moves on the x-axis under the influence of the potential
$$V(x)=\frac{1}{2}m\omega^2x^2+Fx$$
Can anyone help me, using Schrödinger's equation in one dimension that the energy ...
