Exercise 80 discusses the idea of reduced mass. When two objects move under the influence of their mutual force alone, we can treat the relative motion as a one particle system of mass μ=m1v2/(m1+m2). Among other things, this allows us to account for the fact that the nucleus in a hydrogen like atom isn’t perfectly stationary, but in fact also orbits the centre of mass. Suppose that due to Coulomb attraction, an object of mass m2and charge -eorbits an object of mass m1 and charge +Ze . By appropriate substitution into formulas given in the chapter, show that (a) the allowed energies are Z2μmE1n2, where is the hydrogen ground state, and (b) the “Bohr Radius” for this system is ma0 ,where a0is the hydrogen Bohr radius.

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The allowed energies are isZ2μmE1n2.

(b) The Bohr’s Radius is ma0.

Step by step solution

01

Formula used:

From Section 7.8, you know that, all formulas for hydrogen apply to hydrogen like atoms if you simply replace e2toZe2.

Hence,

Energy levels of hydrogen like atoms, En=m(Ze2)22(4πε0)2h2n21n2 …………(1)

Where, z is the atomic mass, h is Plank’s constant, n = principal quantum number,ε0is the permittivity of free space.

And the Bohr’s Radius is,

rn=n2(4πε0)h2m(ze2) ….. (2)

Where, m is the mass.

02

Finding Energy levels:

Now, using eq. (1) and replacing mass (m) with Effective mass μ, you get,

En=mZe2224πε02h21n2=Z2μm-me424πε02h21n2=Z2μmE1n2

Hence, the allowed energies are Z2μmE1n2.

Where, E1is the Energy of hydrogen ground state.

03

Finding the Bohr’s Radius:

Again, using eq. (2) and replacing mass (m) with Effective mass μ, you get,

rn=124πε0h2μZe2=m4πε0h2me2=ma0

Hence, the Bohr’s Radius is ma0.

Where, a0is the hydrogen Bohr radius.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Calculate the electric dipole moment p and estimate the transition time for a hydrogen atom electron making an electric dipole transition from the

(n,l,m)=(3,2,0)to the (2,1,0) state.

Consider two particles that experience a mutual force but no external forces. The classical equation of motion for particle 1 is v˙1=F2on1/m1, and for particle 2 is v˙2=F1on2/m2, where the dot means a time derivative. Show that these are equivalent to v˙cm=constant, and v˙rel=FMutual/μ .Where, v˙cm=(m1v˙1+m2v˙2)/(m1m2),FMutual=-Fion2andμ=m1m2(m1+m2).

In other words, the motion can be analyzed into two pieces the center of mass motion, at constant velocity and the relative motion, but in terms of a one-particle equation where that particle experiences the mutual force and has the “reduced mass” μ.

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