De Brogile Application

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

Shirley Liu 2I
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am

De Brogile Application

I know you can use the De Brogile equation for matter, such as balls, cars, etc., but can you also use the De Brogile equation for finding the wavelengths of electrons and photons or can you only use the c= wavelength x frequency for that ?

Sierra Cheslick 2B
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:27 am

Re: De Brogile Application

You use de Broglie to find the wavelengths of subatomic particles (electrons, protons, and neutrons) but you use lambda = hc/energy for photons since they do not mass.

Jake Gordon 1A
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am

Re: De Brogile Application

Equations using the speed of light are only applicable to electromagnetic radiation (photons) they lack rest mass and therefore do not work for the debroglie relation

On the other hand, everything with rest mass can not be related by using the speed of light and the debroglie relation must be used

Sapna Ramappa 1J
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:24 am

Re: De Brogile Application

You can use de Broglie for anything with mass, so that would include electrons. However, you can't use the equation for photons, because photons don't have mass. In this case, you would use an equation with the speed of light.

305127455
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am

Re: De Brogile Application

Technically De Brogile equation can be used on anything with rest mass; however, the equation is not so helpful on macro objects since their wave property is not obvious.