## question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

$\lambda=\frac{h}{p}$

sandraabdelmalak1D
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### question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of a 0.155 kg ball travelling at 85.0 m.s-1. Can we detect this wavelength or observe the wavelike characteristics of this ball?

I got that the answer is 5.03 x 10^-35 m. I just don't understand how to determine whether something has wavelike properties or not?

Savanna Gharibian 1A
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### Re: question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

You would determine if something has wavelike properties based on the answer you get. Generally things with large mass and large momentum such as traditional objects like cars and balls do not have wavelike properties. I remember asking Dr. Lavelle a similar question and I think he said when you see 10^-18 in your answer that's when you'll know it would be difficult to detect that and also anything smaller. Hope that helps!

Stephanie H
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### Re: question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

Converting the wavelength to nanometers, the wavelength becomes 5.03*10^-26, this is a very small wavelength, therefore we cannot see the wavelike characteristics of the ball. The De Broglie equation relates all matter has wavelike properties. Wavelike properties were discovered by diffraction (the pattern of high and low intensities generated by an object in the path of a light source). Page 17 in the textbook provides a picture of the pattern an electron generated when diffracted.

YashDeshmukh1D
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### Re: question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

Does this mean that even large objects like cars and balls still demonstrate wavelike behavior even though we can't visibly detect it?

Charles Ang 1E
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### Re: question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

YashDeshmukh1D wrote:Does this mean that even large objects like cars and balls still demonstrate wavelike behavior even though we can't visibly detect it?

I believe it does. However, in one of the peer learning workshops, I recall the UA telling me that the DeBroglie equation generally only works with things that are small. From his statement, I assume that DeBroglie's equation does not apply to large objects.

Wayland Leung
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### Re: question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

I was confused because I remember watching one of Dr. Lavelle's modules and him saying that large objects like baseballs and cars do not have wave-like properties. Only small masses with high velocities have wave-like properties. Could someone please clarify? How do you know if something has measurable wave-like properties?

Chem_Mod
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### Re: question on how to determine if something has wavelike properties.

Things will show wave-like properties when the wavelength has somehow close or even larger magnitude than the size of that entity.