Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: pushkar on 20/12/2016 09:29:07

Title: Is the schrodinger wave equation applicable to a stationary electron?
Post by: pushkar on 20/12/2016 09:29:07

S.D Sharma  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
When the quantum number l is zero the angular momentum is zero and hence the electron is stationary. What is the location of stationary electron in the atom. Is the Schrodinger wave equation applicable to a stationary electron?
What do you think?

Title: Re: Is the schrodinger wave equation applicable to a stationary electron?
Post by: Atomic-S on 05/01/2017 04:30:30

The electron having 0 angular momentum is not stationary. Speaking in classical language, we would say that it is moving toward and way from, but not around, the nucleus. The wave function corresponding to this is spherically symmetric, and can have an integer number of nodes, each spherical, that are concentric with respect to the nucleus.  The value of the integer determines the energy level. The electron has linear momentum, but the direction of that momentum is completely indeterminate.  The position of the electron is also indeterminate as to angle, but we can say that it is in the vicinity of the nucleus.

Title: Re: Is the schrodinger wave equation applicable to a stationary electron?
Post by: yor_on on 07/01/2017 23:07:15

you seem to want the Newtonian approach pushkar?
But that's not QM.

It's a 'probability wave'