Available online
Description
The programme shows how Schrodinger's equation admits solutions which indicate the passage of particles through a potential barrier. It goes on to examine Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle for a s...quare well potential and a simple harmonic oscillator potential.
The programme shows how Schrodinger's equation admits solutions which indicate the passage of particles through a potential barrier. It goes on to examine Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle for a s...quare well potential and a simple harmonic oscillator potential.
| Module code and title: | SM351, Quantum theory and atomic structure |
|---|---|
| Item code: | SM351; 06 |
| First transmission date: | 10-06-1974 |
| Published: | 1974 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:15 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Edward Smith |
| Contributors: | Alan Cooper; John Richmond; Russell Stannard |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Alpha particle decay; Barrier `tunneling'; Eigenfunctions; Harmonic oscillator potential; Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle; Nuclear well; Pendulum; Schroedinger's equation; Square well |
| Footage description: | Alan Cooper introduces the programme. He shows how Schrodinger's equation admits solutions which indicate the passage of particles through a potential barrier. The case considered is that of a free particle approaching a barrier. Several graphic aids, a model and computer animations are used. Russ Stannard with a cloud chamber. He explains how the apparatus works, then goes or to confirm the above experimentally by examining alpha decay. Alan Cooper explains how the energy and half life of particles can be determined from the cloud chamber data. These are plotted on a graph for alpha particles. Stannard explains why alpha particles have a unique value of energy. He draws and writes on a board. John Richmond, assuming the role of a student discusses with Stannard Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle in the light of bound states for a square well potential. Stannard and Richmond use the simple harmonic oscillator problem to show how, in a limit, quantum mechanics leads to the expected classical behaviour. The case of a particle whose energy is represented by a coherent sum of wave functions is shown using diagrams and computer animations. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71364 |
| Production number: | 00525_1143 |
| Videofinder number: | 1046 |
| Available to public: | no |
