Quantum Bound States
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About
Topics
- Quantum Particles
- Potential Wells
- Waves
- Probability Density
Description
Explore the properties of quantum "particles" bound in potential wells. See how the wave functions and probability densities that describe them evolve (or don't evolve) over time.
Sample Learning Goals
- Visualize wave functions, probability densities, and energy levels for bound states in various potentials.
- Describe how multiple representations used for wave functions relate to one another.
- Explain what is and is not time-dependent for an energy eigenstate and a superposition state.
- Predict how the curvature and amplitude of the wave function and the spacing of the energy levels depends on the shape of the potential and the mass of the particle.
- Gain an intuition for how band structure results in a lattice of many wells.
- Gain an intuition for how to go from the microscopic potential of a single atom to the macroscopic potential of a solid.
For Teachers
Teacher Tips
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Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
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Authors | Level | Type |
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| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | |
| Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
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Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | |
| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS |
Other | ||
| potential well lab | Tim Paglione | UG-Adv | Lab | ||
| Spinometer | Chris Mounce | UG-Adv | Demo |
Translations
Software Requirements
| Windows | Macintosh | Linux |
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Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7 Sun Java 1.5.0_15 or later
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OS 10.5 or later Sun Java 1.5.0_19 or later
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Sun Java 1.5.0_15 or later
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Credits
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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