## De Broglie Wavelength

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

Melissa Ledesma 2B
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### De Broglie Wavelength

When calculating the de broglie wavelength will the problem always specifically say to "calculate the de broglie wavelength?" if not how do we know when to use it?

Chem_Mod
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

You use the de Broglie wavelength when calculating the wavelength for a particle that has mass, such as an electron.

derek1d
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

Will frequency always be given in problems that ask to calculate wavelength?

Sarina Morales 1D
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

The De Broglie equation doesn't require frequency?? Unless you meant velocity, in which case yes that should be given if the wavelength is unknown.

504754253
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### Wavelength

in quantum mechanics description of an atom, it was mentioned that e- have discrete energies with only certain wavelengths allowed inside an atom... will this be given or are we required to find it?

504754253
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

by using De Brogile's equation will it be able to tell us if the wavelength is constructive or destructive

504754253
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

would we ever need to calculate De Brogile's Wavelength to find if its an allowed energy level or not allowed energy level?

David Zhou 1L
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

What does it intuitively mean when we find the wavelength of large everyday objects? For example, in problem 1.35, what does it really mean when we compare the wavelengths of a 60kg person vs an 80kg person? Or if we calculate the wavelength of a baseball traveling 92 mph in problem 1.39? Do these have real-world application? Will we ever have to know what this means or just calculate the value?

Kendall Schemmer 1I
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

The wavelength of an object directly relates to how energetic the wave is. Being able to calculate and knowing the wavelength is helping in determining how "powerful" the wave is and if it is safe (radio, microwave, visible light, etc.) or dangerous (gamma rays, x-rays, UV radiation).

Lorie Seuylemezian-2K
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

What is the smallest wavelength that can be detected?

MorganYun1H
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

Isn't it approx. 420nm?

Aliza Ajmal 1D
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

An important thing to note: photons don't have mass! That's why none of the other formulas include mass or velocity. You'll know when to use de broglie because you'll be given mass or velocity and it's the only formula that you can plug this into to find wavelength. Hope this helps!

Anna Goldberg 2I
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

Calculating the de Broglie wavelength will not tell you if it is constructive or destructive. It just simply tells you how long the wavelength is.

Anna Goldberg 2I
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

In 1.35, assuming the velocities of the two people are similar, I think the problem is just trying to show the relationship between the de Broglie wavelengths of two objects of the same speed but different masses, that being that the object with the smaller mass will have the larger de Broglie wavelength.
In terms of 1.39, I think this problem is mainly aimed at unit conversion and then using the appropriate converted units in the de Broglie equation. However, as seen in some of the online module questions for de Broglie, you are sometimes asked whether the wavelength is detectable or not. This is the only application I could think of.

MichelleT_1L
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

When dealing with the De Broglie wavelength, usually the question will include a velocity or a mass of the particle being used (or say that it's an electron or something else with a known mass). This equation deals with particles that are not moving at the speed of light, so if the particle discussed is not a photon, and asks for energy, velocity, or mass while giving the value for the other two of those it is likely De Broglie.

Amir Bayat
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

At what de Broglie wavelength can the wavelike properties be detected?

Katherine Brenner 3H
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

I believe that everything larger than 10^-12 is a detectable way.

Shutong Hou_1F
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

De Broglie's wavelength equation applies to any moving particle with momentum so that the particle has wavelike properties, such as electrons, neutrons, and protons. However, only when the particle has extremely small mass would the wavelike property be noticeable.

ranqiao1e
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

Most likely the problem is not gonna tell you which equation to use, but you can use de broglie when there’s mass.

Destiny_Ryales_3J
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

I think the short and direct answer to this question is no, the question will not always say De Broglie in it. You need to know the components of the equation to know when to use it.

Jamie Lee 1F
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

You would use de Broglie whenever you're dealing with a particle that is not light, and has mass.

Micah3J
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

Can you use the de broglie equation to calculate the wavelength of something other than an electron? And when do we know to use the de broglie equation over KE?

Sears 4A
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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

you can use de Broglie for something other than an electron (its anything that has mass), but i think were mostly expected to use it for electrons. im pretty sure the problem would clearly state the mass of another particle if they expected us to do that

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### Re: De Broglie Wavelength

You can use the de Broglie equation for other things, if they have mass. keep in mind that this means the de Broglie equation cannot be used for photons because they do not have mass.

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