Calculate the de Broglie Wavelength

What is the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV electron, photon, and neutron?

The de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV electron is 3.86 x 10^-11 meters, the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV photon is 2.48 x 10^-10 meters, and the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV neutron is 2.20 x 10^-12 meters.

De Broglie Wavelength Calculation

The de Broglie wavelength, symbolized by λ, is a particle's wavelength associated with its momentum. It is calculated using the formula λ = h / p, where h is the Planck constant and p is the momentum of the particle. Let's break down the calculations for each given particle:

(a) 0.998 keV electron:
The de Broglie wavelength of an electron can be calculated using the formula λ = h / p, where p = √(2mE), and m is the mass of the electron, and E is its energy.

Substituting the values:
λ = 6.626 x 10^-34 J.s / √(2 x 9.109 x 10^-31 kg x 0.998 x 10^3 eV x 1.602 x 10^-19 J/eV)
λ ≈ 3.86 x 10^-11 m

(b) 0.998 keV photon:
The de Broglie wavelength of a photon can be calculated using the formula λ = hc / E, where c is the speed of light and E is the energy of the photon.

Substituting the values:
λ = (6.626 x 10^-34 J.s x 3 x 10^8 m/s) / (0.998 x 10^3 eV x 1.602 x 10^-19 J/eV)
λ ≈ 2.48 x 10^-10 m

(c) 0.998 keV neutron:
The de Broglie wavelength of a neutron can be calculated using the same formula as for an electron: λ = h / p, where p = √(2mE), m is the mass of the neutron, and E is its energy.

Substituting the values:
λ = 6.626 x 10^-34 J.s / √(2 x 1.675 x 10^-27 kg x 0.998 x 10^3 eV x 1.602 x 10^-19 J/eV)
λ ≈ 2.20 x 10^-12 m

In conclusion, the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV electron is 3.86 x 10^-11 meters, the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV photon is 2.48 x 10^-10 meters, and the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.998 keV neutron is 2.20 x 10^-12 meters.
← The amazing cliff diver calculating mechanical energy Comparing speed of falling objects on different planets →