wavelike properties

[leediane0916]

When problems ask you if your object (ie. car) has measurable wavelike properties, what it is asking me to identify/decide?

[Blake Salfer 1B]

Dr. Lavelle stated that any wavelength smaller than about 1.0x10^-18 wouldn't be detectable. Basically anything besides subatomic particles have wavelengths that are too small to detect.

[Stephen Sirmay 1I]

Although they may not be detectable, the wavelength can be calculated. A car for example, does have mass and could have velocity and therefore could apply to the equation, the wavelength will not be detectable however.

[305154707]

An object like a car would have too great a mass to produce measurable wavelike properties. In some of the homework problems, cars yielded a projected wavelength of about 10^-38m. This wavelength would be too small to be considered noticeable, although we have detected it. Only very small particles produce a wavelength that is proportionally noticeable. For example, the examples with electrons usually yield a DeBrogile wavelength of around 10^5. The cutoff for what is "detectable" or not is 10^18m. Hope this helps!

[uhedlund]

A wavelength smaller than 1*10^-18 cannot be detected; however, it can still be calculated.