The normalized radial probability density givesConsequently the expectation value of the potential energy isHere the last equality uses . Since this is an energy eigenstate, , and so . The kinetic energy is positive because , in agreement with the virial theorem for a Coulomb potential.
The probability of finding the electron in a spherical shell is , soThis radial probability density, rather than the density per unit volume, determines the most probable radius. Its expectation value isFor its interior maximum, differentiate . The stationary condition givesThe density per unit volume is instead largest at the nucleus; including the spherical-shell volume factor is essential to the requested radial mode.
Radial probability density 2026-10-18
The radial probability density is defined so that is the probability of finding a particle between radii and . The spherical volume element gives . For a spherically symmetric wavefunction, ; for with normalized spherical harmonics, . Its maximum need not coincide with the maximum of the density per unit volume: a hydrogenic state has its largest spatial density at the origin but its most probable radius at .