Mathematical Physics Sample Exam 5

1. Solve for
():
() =   ( )
() . [20 pts]



2.Solve for
():   =  (

)
() . [20 pts]
Hints: 
  ()


!

= 

 



, <  < ,  

 ()  = 2 ! 
!

3.Solve for the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions:
() =  (2   )
()  [20 pts]
4.The probability density of momentum of a one dimensional gas consisting of

molecules with mass m is "# ($) = % &(''( ) where ) + $ are given positive
constants and N is a normalization constant that needs to be determined. Calculate the
following:
a) Normalization constant N [5 pts]
b) mean momentum [5 pts]
c) variance of the momentum [5 pts]
d) probability density of the kinetic energy ", (-) where - =

'

[10 pts]

5.A random walker starts from the origin and takes steps of length 1 either going to the
left ( = 1)or going to the right left ( = +1) . The probability of taking a step to
the right or left on the 1st step, 3rd step, 5th step, etc are and respectively. The
probability of taking steps to the right or left on the 2nd step , 4th step, 6th step, etc are
and respectively. Calculate the following:
a) Probability that the random walker is at the position x=0 after six steps. [5 pts]
b) Expectation value of the position of the walker after 2N steps. [5 pts]
c) Second moment of the position of the walker after 2N steps. [5 pts]
6.For a radioactive sample, 10 decays are counted on average in 100 seconds. Estimate
the probability of counting 5 decays in 10 seconds. [5 pts]