A free electron in motion along the x axis has a localized wave function.If it enters a region of space where its potential energy increases,
A)its total energy will decrease.
B)its momentum will increase.
C)its wave number will increase.
D)its wavelength will increase.
E)its kinetic energy will increase.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a free electron enters a region where its potential energy increases, its kinetic energy decreases to conserve total energy. Since kinetic energy is directly related to the square of the momentum (and thus inversely related to the square of the wavelength for a given mass), a decrease in kinetic energy means the wavelength of the electron's wave function increases.

A Free Electron in Motion Along the X Axis Has