Smallest Measurable Wavelength

[Isaac Wen]

Hi everyone,

What's considered the smallest measurable wavelength that would give wavelike characteristics to an object? I came across this question in one of the module assessments.

29. 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?

[Justin Nguyen 3E]

I think Dr. Lavelle said in one of the recent lecture that objects with a wavelength with less than 10^-15 meters cannot be observed which usually applies to objects with higher masses. Hope this helps!

[Siwa Hwang 3G]

Using the De Broglie Equation, you get wavelength = h / (0.155kg x 85 m/sec) = 5.03 x 10^-35m. This wavelength is significantly smaller than the wavelength of an electron (10^12) so it can not be measured.

[Will Pham 1J]

Hi, so I know Lavelle said a wavelength less than 10^-15 cannot be observed, but is there an explanation/reasoning for this? Why exactly 10^-15?

[Funmi Baruwa]

Just confirming that Dr. Lavelle told us that it is 10^-15 m.

[derickngo3d]

Yep, 10^-15 meters is what Dr. Lavelle said.

[Jason_John_2F]

can confirm that wavelength less than 10^-15 m cannot be observed

[Vanshika Bhushan 1A]

The smallest measurable wavelength, as stated by Dr.Lavelle, is 10^-15 M because otherwise it can not be observed.