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Wave function in SHM

  1. Feb 18, 2013 #1
    What is the wave function of a simple harmonic wave?

  2. jcsd
  3. Feb 18, 2013 #2
    y(x,t)=Asin(ωt+kx) is the equation of motion for a simple harmonic oscillator.

    You get this by solving Newton's force law..

    [itex] F=ma=-kx \\
    ma+kx=0 \\
    a+\frac{k}{m}x=0 [/itex]
    Or you can write

    [itex] \ddot{x}+\frac{k}{m}x=0 [/itex]

    This is a differential equation, solved by Asin(ωt+kx), where [itex] \omega = \sqrt{\frac{k}{m}} [/itex].

    I'm not sure if this answers your question?
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2013
  4. Feb 18, 2013 #3
    He was asking for the wave function. You need to solve it with the Schrodinger equation, not Newtons laws.
  5. Feb 19, 2013 #4
    This is posted in classical physics, however.. and in any case if it is undergoing simple harmonic motion then it isn't a quantum harmonic oscillator, so I don't see any reason to be messing around with Schrodingers.
  6. Feb 19, 2013 #5
    Fair enough, it is a bit ambiguous eh?

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