Particle-in-a-Box

This applet demonstrates that particles can only exist at some fixed energy levels for a box of fixed width.

The Box here represents a one dimensional area beyond which the wave nature of the particle cannot be detected.

A particle here means a wave with nodes at the end of the walls.

The slider alongside E can be moved to fix energy levels, and the slider alongside W changes the width of the box.

Only a state for which the equilibrium line turns green can exist. Notice that the equilibrium line turns green only when there are nodes at both ends of the wall.

To see a slow transition from point A to point B along any slider, click and hold the mouse at point B.

 


Sorry, you need a Java-enabled browser to see the simulation.

This wonderful applet and many others like it can be found at: Dieter Bingemann's Chem 153 page