The wave function for a particle must be normalizable because
A) the particle's momentum must be conserved.
B) the particle's angular momentum must be conserved.
C) the particle's charge must be conserved.
D) the particle must be somewhere.
E) the particle cannot be in two places at the same time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The wave function provides information about the probability density of finding the particle at a particular location. For the probability of finding the particle to be finite and meaningful, the wave function must be normalizable. Normalizability ensures that the probability of finding the particle somewhere in space is equal to 1, and hence the particle must be somewhere. This has nothing to do with the conservation of momentum, angular momentum, or charge, and does not imply that the particle cannot be in two places at the same time.

The Wave Function for a Particle Must Be Normalizable Because