## 1B19

AronCainBayot2K
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:17 am

### 1B19

Protons and neutrons have nearly the same mass. How different are their wavelengths? Calculate the wavelength of each particle when traveling at 2.75 * 10^5 m*s^-1 in a particle accelerator and report the difference as a percentage of the wavelength of the neutron.

I am confused on how to calculate the wavelength of each particle. How do I determine how their wavelengths are different?

preyasikumar_2L
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: 1B19

Using the De Broglie equation λ = h/mv and the masses of a proton (1.6726*10^-27 kg) and a neutron (1.6750*10^-27 kg) that you find by looking them up (I think, unless it's given or you've memorized them)

MTanikella_1K
Posts: 110
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: 1B19

As mentioned in the previous post, the de broglie equation should be used for this problem. The calculations will show that there is no difference in the first three significant figures of the wavelength.

Kendall 3H
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:18 am

### Re: 1B19

All you have to do for this problem is use the equation "wavelength= h/ (mass x velocity)"
You are trying to find the wavelength and you already have h and velocity and all you have to do is look up the mass of a proton and a neutron. The masses are very similar. Once you calculate the wavelength of a proton and neutron you see that the wavelengths are the same.