Lecture 39 | Ground State Energy in Harmonic Potential using Variational and WKB Methods

In this video, we tackle a classic quantum mechanics problem:
👉 Consider a particle of mass m moving in a harmonic potential. Estimate its ground state energy using:
(a) The Variational Method
(b) The WKB Approximation

I walk you through both approaches step by step, comparing results and highlighting the strengths of each method. Whether you're preparing for exams or brushing up on quantum mechanics, this video offers clear insights and practical problem-solving techniques!

📌 Topics Covered:

Variational Principle basics

Choosing a good trial wavefunction

WKB Approximation fundamentals

Matching boundary conditions in WKB

Comparing approximations to the exact solution

📘 Great for students of:

Quantum Mechanics

Physics Majors

Competitive Exams (e.g., CSIR-NET, GATE)

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