Show that ͟d͟〈͟p͟〉͟ = -〳͟d͟V͟(͟x͟)͟〵 when a particle is subjected to a potential 〈V(x)〉. dt 〵dx 〳 The time derivative of the expectation value of the momentum is a known quantity, from Time Dependence of Expectation Value of General Momentum Operator: d〈p〉 = 1. dt ιħ The problem is therefore reduced to finding whether -/dV(x)\ reduces to 1. \dx / ιħ -/dV(x)\ = -〈Ψ| d V(x) |Ψ〉. \dx / dx Viewing the expression in this form reveals a relationship between the space derivative and the operators V(x) and |Ψ〉. The chain rule allows this derivative to be computed. -〈Ψ| d V(x) |Ψ〉 = -〈Ψ| ⎛d V(x)|Ψ> + d |Ψ> V(x)⎞. dx ⎝dx dx ⎠