## Confusing percentage question in DeBrogile question

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

EMurphy_2L
Posts: 128
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:16 am

### Confusing percentage question in DeBrogile question

Textbook question: Calculate the wavelength of a proton and a neutron traveling at 2.75x10^5 m/s and report the difference as a percentage of the wavelength of the neutron.

My question: Okay so using DeBrogile's Equation I got the wavelength of this proton to be 1.4414pm and the wavelength of this neutron to be 1.4394pm. I'm so confused by the second part of the question though. So is the neutron 100% of the wavelength of the neutron? And the proton is 1.4414/1.4394 x100% of the neutron? Why would you need to calculate this? Like that does this mean or tell us?

FDeCastro_1B
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Confusing percentage question in DeBrogile question

I'm not entirely sure as to why that question was asked either. The wavelength of a neutron and a proton would end up to be the same because they nearly have the same mass, just missing the mark by a couple sig figs.

Aedra Li 3H
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Confusing percentage question in DeBrogile question

I was also confused by this question, and the solution manual did not list any percentage differences.

EMurphy_2L
Posts: 128
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Confusing percentage question in DeBrogile question

Aedra Li 3H wrote:I was also confused by this question, and the solution manual did not list any percentage differences.

oh that's so weird. Okay I'll just leave the answer as the wavelengths I found. Thank you!