To compare the differences between the functions and for the n = 1 and n = 2 states of hydrogen, they are plotted on the same graph as shown in the following Figure - 9.9 and Figure - 9.10:
- The increase in l by 1 from 2s to 2p states means that neither
nor have nodes. Asymptotically, both functions decay at the same rate as their 2s counterparts, because the decay constant for a pure- Coulomb potential energy doesn't depend on l.
- The sole peak in
occurs at r = 4 , where its value is 0.19. Interestingly, the mean radius of 2p state = 5 is 1 smaller than that of the 2s state.
- In the plots of reduced radial functions
, and , note the differences in these functions rise from 0. The functions and rise like r, in which is faster than while rises like .
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