## De Broglie Equation Example

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

Diana Sandoval 1K
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am
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### De Broglie Equation Example

On Friday's lecture we had the worked example: If you are driving a 1.50*10^3 kg car at 27.0 ms^-1, what is the Broglie wavelength of your car? Does your car have nay measurable wavelike properties? I understood how to get the Broglie wavelength but to the second part why was the answer no?

Jonathan Cheng 3C
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### Re: De Broglie Equation Example

The wavelength found, 1.64 * 10^-38 m, is so small that the waves would not be able to be detected. Thus, the car does not have any measurable wavelike properties.

Diviya Khullar 1G
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

### Re: De Broglie Equation Example

In order for something to be considered to have wavelength properties it has to have a wavelength that is larger than n x 10^(-18) m. Anything smaller than that is not easily detectable. So, in the example you are referring to the wavelength of the car was determined to be 1.64 x 10^(-38), which is significantly smaller and is therefore undetectable. So, the car does not have any measurable wavelength properties.

Avery Zuelch 1D
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:18 am

### Re: De Broglie Equation Example

What would be an example of something that does have measurable wavelength properties? I know Dr. Lavelle mentioned something in class about a baseball, but that is not really applicable to this class's content.

Diviya Khullar 1G
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

### Re: De Broglie Equation Example

Something that is very small, such as an electron, has a wavelength that is large enough to be detectable.