- #1
leinadle
- 15
- 0
Hi all,
I'm having conceptual troubles understanding the significance of the potential energy term in Schrodinger's equation. More specifically, the physical meaning of the potential "wells" is not clicking with me; my textbook is not making this very clear.
For clarity, consider an electron in some wire that has a potential energy function that is not constant throughout the length and non-zero. How exactly can I interpret this? Does this curve characterize the potential energy of the electron at any point in the wire? What could cause this potential energy to vary with position, and how does that physically affect the electron?
An overall conceptual understanding of the potential energy for an electron in a well would be much appreciated, as I am quite confused on how to understand these curves intuitively.
I'm having conceptual troubles understanding the significance of the potential energy term in Schrodinger's equation. More specifically, the physical meaning of the potential "wells" is not clicking with me; my textbook is not making this very clear.
For clarity, consider an electron in some wire that has a potential energy function that is not constant throughout the length and non-zero. How exactly can I interpret this? Does this curve characterize the potential energy of the electron at any point in the wire? What could cause this potential energy to vary with position, and how does that physically affect the electron?
An overall conceptual understanding of the potential energy for an electron in a well would be much appreciated, as I am quite confused on how to understand these curves intuitively.