De Broglie module #35

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

Mariam Baghdasaryan 4F
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:29 am

De Broglie module #35

35. Calculate the wavelength of a 275 kg single-seat electric car traveling at a speed of 125 km.hr-1. Do electric cars have wavelike properties?
A. λ = 6.94 x 10-38 m , Yes
B. λ = 6.94 x 10-38 m , No
C. λ = 1.93 x 10-38 m , Yes
D. λ = 1.93 x 10-38 m , No

I got the wavelength correct, but I chose A because I thought that all matter has wavelike properties. Thus, wouldn't the car also have wavelike properties, even though it isn't detectable?

Jeannine 1I
Posts: 73
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

Re: De Broglie module #35

I think it's true that technically all matter has wavelike properties, but I believe in one of his lectures, Mr. Lavelle mentioned that anything smaller than 10^-18 would be so small that it most likely would not display wavelike properties.

Nicole Lee 4E
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am
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Re: De Broglie module #35

Dr. Lavelle said that we don't have the ability to measure such small wavelengths, so a number as small as 6.94 x 10^-38m can be ignored.

KatelinTanjuaquio 1L
Posts: 69
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am
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Re: De Broglie module #35

Yes, as stated above, while a everything, including a car, has wavelength properties, a car's wavelengths are too small to be detected. The threshold for being detected, as Dr. Lavelle said in class, is about 10^-18 m.