Wavelength Plausibility

[ahuang]

In the lecture slides, it said that an electron's wavelength is around 10^-12m. In the modules it asks if certain wavelengths are able to be detected. I just wanted to confirm that if the wavelength smaller than 10^-12, it is detectable. But how much smaller is detectable? Is ~10^-15m acceptable?

[Chem_Mod]

The context here is when does a particle cease to have detectable wave-like properties. In other words only particle-like behavior will be observed.
Typically a particle with a de Broglie wavelength less than 10^-15m does not have detectable wave-like properties. Obviously the higher the mass, the smaller the wavelength and therefore more likely to have only particle-like behavior.

In class I will discuss this and show, using calculated values, that a baseball has only particle-like behavior (as its de Broglie wavelength is far too small to have any detectable wave-like properties).

[Natalie Benitez 1E]

I remember in the lecture the slides said that visible light can be seen from 700nm (Red) to 400nm (Violet) but in the picture from the slides it went up to 720 nm. So, basically my question is if visible light ranging from 700 nm to 400nm or from 720nm to 400nm.

[Angela Patel 2J]

He said that it is 720 to 400 but that we can just remember 700 to 400 since it's easier!

[KatherineValdez_4B]

So if we remember 700 rather than 720 are we still correct?

[Amy Pham 1D]

The upper limit of the correct range was, as the slides depicted, 720 nm. This is the correct number, 700 is just a simple round number to have a mental ballpark estimate.

[nicole-2B]

He said that it is 720 to 400 but that we can just remember 700 to 400 since it's easier!

Thank you for clarifying .

[AveryAgosto]

Anything smaller than 10^-15 is not detectable.

[Robert Cross 1A]

Thank you for the clarification!

[Abigail_Hagen2G]

Okay, so all we have to remember is that the range of visible light is from around 700 nm to 400 nm, and that anything below 10^-15 is not detectable?

[madeleine_dis1E]

Yes, the 700-400nm example he gave is meant to provide a mental picture of the range however the actual scale is from 720-400. Either way you want to remember it is ok.

[Alan Cornejo 1a]

Yes, the 700-400nm example he gave is meant to provide a mental picture of the range however the actual scale is from 720-400. Either way you want to remember it is ok.

correct, 700 is just used for an easier conceptualization of the actual range

[Ruth Glauber 1C]

I believe using 700 to 400 is acceptable (and easier to remember).

[005162520]

Quick clarification, why isn't not detectable?

[Nathan Rothschild_2D]

The problems we have been doing have been involving visible light. 10^-15 would fall in the ultraviolet spectrum and would not be detectable to the human eye.

[Katherine Brenner 3H]

Does that mean that the larger an electrons wavelength is, the more wave-like properties it possesses?

[Angela Prince 1J]

He said that it is 720 to 400 but that we can just remember 700 to 400 since it's easier!

Because it differs so much according to different tables, I think it will be fine if you just remember 700 to 400

[melinak1]

He said that it is 720 to 400 but that we can just remember 700 to 400 since it's easier!

Because it differs so much according to different tables, I think it will be fine if you just remember 700 to 400

thank you!!

[brennayoung]

I know he said 720 to 400 but 700 was acceptable but wouldn't that change the calculations?

[AnayaArnold_3L]

Thank you so much!

[RBergtraun_3A]

I had a similar question, this video helped me a lot. Hope it helps you. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/phy ... c-spectrum

[Natalie Benitez 1E]

He said that it is 720 to 400 but that we can just remember 700 to 400 since it's easier!

Thank you !!!

[Caroline Zepecki]

Technically, if the question asks if the wavelength is detectable, or more often it will ask if there are "detectable wavelike properties" that means that it wants to know whether the wavelength is greater than 10e-15 or not.

[Ruth Glauber 1C]

I think that a de Broglie wavelength less than 10-15m does not have detectable wave-like properties.

[KatherineValdez_4B]

What is the final unit for the wavelength?

[Jaklin Astvatsatryan]

What is the final unit for the wavelength?

A unit of wavelength is in meters which you can convert to nm.

[AnayaArnold_3L]

Thanks!!!!

I had a similar question, this video helped me a lot. Hope it helps you. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/phy ... c-spectrum

[CNourian2H]

Technically, if the question asks if the wavelength is detectable, or more often it will ask if there are "detectable wavelike properties" that means that it wants to know whether the wavelength is greater than 10e-15 or not.

That makes a lot of sense! A good thing to look out for, thanks!

[bloodorangefield]

Wouldn't the difference from 720 to 700 make a significant enough difference?

[Hussain Chharawalla 1G]

It would, but I think for the purposes of the class we only need to remember 700-400 nm.

[brennayoung]

For the final do we need to have the different wavelength series memorized for the energy required to raise it one energy level like quantum state =1, n=2 etc?

[alebenavides]

I think he said before we only need 700-400 nm. hope this helps