GREPhysics.NET: GR9277 #30

GR9277 #30

Problem

GREPhysics.NET Official Solution

\prob{30}
Given that the binding energy of the hydrogen atom ground state is $E_0=$ 13.6eV, the binding energy of the n=2 state of positronium (positron-electron system) is

$8E_0$
$4E_0$
$E_0$
$E_0/4$
$E_0/8$

Quantum Mechanics $\Rightarrow$ }Bohr Theory

The ground state binding energy of positronium is half of that of Hydrogen. This is so because the energy is proportional to the reduced mass, and that of the positronium has a reduced mass of half that of Hydrogen.

Thus, from the Bohr formula, one has $E = Z^2 E_1/n^2$ , where $E_1=E_0/2$ and $E_0$ is the ground state energy of Hydrogen. (The ground state energy of positronium is half that of Hydrogen because its reduced mass is half that of Hydrogen's.)

Since $Z=1$ , then for $n=2$ , the energy is $E = E_0/8$ , as in choice (E).

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Comments

bucky0
2007-10-04 17:11:46

For positronium, I always assume that 6.8 eV is the binding energy. It's quick and right.

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agaliarept
2006-11-25 16:00:09

How can Z=1 when there is no Proton or Neutoron in positronium?

Jeremy
2007-10-30 18:11:20

In this formula, $Z$ is used to represent the number of positive charges in the nucleus. In typical cases, this represents the number of protons. Here however, it is a positron that contributes the charge.

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tera
2006-08-21 04:58:39

Positron has 1/1800 the mass of hydrogen i think and i can not see the formula tha says that energey is proportional to the mass. I just can not understand the correct answer

caffeinated
2008-04-09 10:13:33

The Rydberg constant is E/hc =911.27E-1 angstoms. For H, divide by 1+m/M which is the reduced mass. In this case, M=m, since the nucleus is a positron, it has the same mass as the electron. Thus, the ratio of energy is 1/2.

dcan
2008-04-10 10:00:49

Oops. I left out $Z^2$ . The Rydberg constant is $E_0Z^2/hc(1+m/M)$ . I sometimes forget about Z because it's usually H with Z=1.

Almno10
2010-11-12 14:02:03

The reduced mass of hydrogen atom is about me, since mu = (mp*me)/(mp + me). Do this for positronium, and see that the reduced mass is (1/2)me

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astro_allison
2005-11-24 04:08:02

are you sure z=2 here? the math doesn't work. plus it doesn't make sense that positronium, with a smaller reduced mass than helium (z=1) would have a higher z. shouldn't z=-1?

yosun
2005-11-26 01:34:59

astro_allison: thanks for the typo-alert; it has been corrected.

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are you sure z=2 here? the math doesn't work. plus it doesn't make sense that positronium, with a smaller reduced mass than helium (z=1) would have a higher z. shouldn't z=-1?

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