5B: Model System: The Harmonic Oscillator
- Page ID
- 37576
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There are four model systems that will be explored in Chem 110A: (1) Particles in a box, (2) the Harmonic Oscillator, (3) the Rigid Rotor and (4) the Hydrogen atom. The harmonic oscillator potential can be used as a model to approximate many physical phenomena quite well. Moreover, the harmonic oscillator is important because it's an approximate solution to nearly every system with a minimum of potential energy.