PHYSICS CHAPTER 10

is a phenomenon where under certain

circumstances a particle exhibits wave
properties and under other conditions a
wave exhibits properties of a particle.

CHAPTER 10:
Wave properties of particle
(2 Hours)
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 PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Learning Outcome:
www.kmph.matrik.edu.my/physic s

10.1 de Broglie wavelength (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 State and use formulae for wave-particle duality of
de Broglie,
h
λ=
p

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10

10.1 de Broglie wavelength

 From the Planck’s quantum theory, the energy of a photon is
given by hc
E= (10.1)
λ
 From the Einstein’s special theory of relativity, the energy of a
photon is given by
E = mc 2 and mc = p
E = pc (10.2)
 By equating eqs. (10.1) and (10.2), hence
hc
= pc
λ
h
particle aspect p= (10.3)
λ wave aspect
where p : momentum
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
 From the eq. (10.3), thus light has momentum and exhibits
particle property. This also show light is dualistic in nature,
nature
behaving is some situations like wave and in others like
particle (photon) and this phenomenon is called wave particle
duality of light.
light
 Table 10.1 shows the experiment evidences to show wave
particle duality of light.
Wave Particle
Young’s double slit Photoelectric effect
experiment
Diffraction experiment Compton effect

Table 10.1
 Based on the wave particle duality of light, Louis de Broglie
suggested that matter such as electron and proton might
also have a dual nature.
nature
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
 He proposed that for any particle of momentum p should
have a wavelength λ given by

h h
λ= = (10.4)
p mv
where λ : de Broglie wavelength
h : Planck's constant
m : mass of a particle
v : velocity of a particle
Eq. (10.4) is known as de Broglie relation (principle).
(principle)
 This wave properties of matter is called de Broglie waves or
matter waves.
waves
 The de Broglie relation was confirmed in 1927 when Davisson
and Germer succeeded in diffracting electron which shows
that electrons have wave properties.
properties

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Example 1 :
In a photoelectric effect experiment, a light source of
wavelength 550 nm is incident on a sodium surface. Determine the
momentum and the energy of a photon used.
(Given the speed of light in the vacuum, c =3.00× 108 m s−1 and
Planck’s constant, h =6.63× 10−34 J s)
−9
Solution : λ = 550 × 10 m
By using the de Broglie relation, thus
−34
h 6 . 63 × 10
λ= 550 × 10 −9 =
p p
p = 1.21 × 10 −27 kg m s −1
and the energy of the photon is given by

E=
hc
E=
( 6.63 × 10 )(3.00 × 10 )
−34 8

λ 550 × 10 −9
E = 3.62 × 10 −19 J
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Example 2 :
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength for
a. a jogger of mass 77 kg runs with at speed of 4.1 m s−1.
b. an electron of mass 9.11× 10−31 kg moving at 3.25× 105 m s−1.
(Given the Planck’s constant, h =6.63× 10−34 J s)
Solution :
−1
a. Given m = 77 kg; v = 4.1 m s
The de Broglie wavelength for the jogger is
h 6.63 × 10 −34
λ= λ=
mv ( 77 )( 4.1)
λ = 2.1 × 10 −36 m
−31 5 −1
b. Given m = 9.11 × 10 kg; v = 3.25 × 10 m s
The de Broglie wavelength for the electron is
6.63 × 10 −34
λ= λ = 2.24 × 10 −9 m
( )(
9.11 × 10 −31 3.25 × 105 ) 7
PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Example 3 :
An electron and a proton have the same speed.
a. Which has the longer de Broglie wavelength? Explain.
b. Calculate the ratio of λ / λ p.
e

(Given c =3.00× 108 m s−1, h =6.63× 10−34 J s, me=9.11× 10−31 kg,

mp=1.67× 10−27 kg and e=1.60× 10−19 C)
Solution : e
v =v =v
p

a. From de Broglie relation,

h
λ=
mv
the de Broglie wavelength is inversely proportional to the
mass of the particle. Since the electron lighter than the mass
of the proton therefore the electron has the longer de Broglie
wavelength.
wavelength

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Solution : ve = vp = v
Therefore the ratio of their de Broglie wavelengths is
 h 
 
λe  me v 
=
λp  h 
 
 mp v 
 
mp
=
me
1.67 × 10 −27
=
9.11 × 10 −31
λe
= 1833
λp
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 PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Learning Outcome:
www.kmph.matrik.edu.my/physic s

10.2 Electron diffraction (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 Describe Davisson-Germer experiment by using a
schematic diagram to show electron diffraction.
 Explain the wave behaviour of electron in an electron
microscope and its advantages compared to optical
microscope.

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10

10.2 Electron diffraction

10.2.1 Davisson-Germer experiment
 Figure 10.1 shows a tube for demonstrating electron diffraction
by Davisson and Germer.
graphite film screen diffraction
anode pattern

+4000 V
cathode
electron
diffraction
Figure 10.1: electron diffraction tube
 A beam of accelerated electrons strikes on a layer of graphite
which is extremely thin and a diffraction pattern consisting of
rings is seen on the tube face. 11
PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
 This experiment proves that the de Broglie relation was right
and the wavelength of the electron is given by
h
λ= (10.5)
mv
where m : mass of an electron
v : velocity of an electron
 If the velocity of electrons is increased,
increased the rings are seen to
become narrower showing that the wavelength of electrons
decreases with increasing velocity as predicted by de broglie
(eq. 10.5).
 The velocity of electrons are controlled by the applied voltage V
across anode and cathode i.e.
1 2
U =K eV = mv
2
2eV
v= (10.6)
m 12
PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
 By substituting the eq. (10.6) into eq. (10.5), thus
h
λ=
 2eV 
m 

 m 
h
λ= (10.7)
2meV
Note:
 Electrons are not the only particles which behave as waves.
 The diffraction effects are less noticeable with more massive
particles because their momenta are generally much higher and so
the wavelength is correspondingly shorter.
shorter
 Diffraction of the particles are observed when the wavelength is of
the same order as the spacing between plane of the atom.atom

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Example 4 :
a. An electron is accelerated from rest through a potential
difference
of 2000 V. Determine its de Broglie wavelength.
b. An electron and a photon has the same wavelength of 0.21 nm.

Calculate the momentum and energy (in eV) of the electron and
the photon.
(Given c =3.00× 108 m s−1, h =6.63× 10−34 J s, me=9.11× 10−31 kg and
e=1.60× 10
V =C)
−19
2000 V
Solution :
a. Given h 6.63 × 10 −34
λThe λ = for the electron is
= de Broglie wavelength
2meV ( )( )
2 9.11 × 10 −31 1.60 × 10 −19 2000
λ = 2.75 × 10 −11 m
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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Solution :
b. Given λe = λp = 0.21× 10 −9 m
For an electron,
h 6.63 × 10 −34
Its momentum is p = p=
λe 0.21 × 10 −9
p = 3.16 × 10 −24 kg m s −1
1 p
and its energy is K = me v and v =
2
2 2 me
p
=
2me

=
(3.16 × 10 )
− 24 2

(
2 9.11 × 10 −31 )
5.48 × 10 −18
=
1.60 × 10 −19
K = 34.3 eV 15
PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Solution :
b. Given λe = λp = 0.21× 10 −9 m
For a photon,
Its momentum is p = 3.16 × 10 −24 kg m s −1
and its energy is hc
E=
λp

=
( 6.63 × 10 )( 3.00 × 10 )
−34 8

0.21 × 10 −9
9.47 × 10 −16
=
1.60 × 10 −19
E = 5919 eV

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Example 5 :
Compare the de Broglie wavelength of an electron and a proton if
they have the same kinetic energy.
(Given c =3.00× 108 m s−1, h =6.63× 10−34 J s, me=9.11× 10−31 kg,
mp=1.67× 10−27 kg and e=1.60× 10−19 C)
Solution : K e = K p = K
By using the de Broglie wavelength formulae, thus
h
λ= and eV = K
2meV
h
λ=
2mK

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Solution : K e = K p = K
Therefore the ratio of their de Broglie wavelengths is
 h 
 
λe  2me K 
=
λp  h 
 
 2m K 
 p 
mp
=
me
1.67 × 10 −27
=
9.11 × 10 −31
λe
= 42.8
λp 18
PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
10.2.2 Electron microscope
 A practical device that relies on the wave properties of electrons
is electron microscope.
 It is similar to optical compound microscope in many aspects.
 The advantage of the electron microscope over the optical
microscope is the resolving power of the electron
microscope is much higher than that of an optical
microscope.
microscope
 This is because the electrons can be accelerated to a very high
kinetic energy giving them a very short wavelength λ typically
100 times shorter than those of visible light.
light Therefore the
diffraction effect of electrons as a wave is much less than
that of light.
light
 As a result, electron microscopes are able to distinguish details
about 100 times smaller.

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
 In operation, a beam of electrons falls on a thin slice of sample.
 The sample (specimen) to be examined must be very thin (a few
micrometres) to minimize the effects such as absorption or
scattering of the electrons.
 The electron beam is controlled by electrostatic or magnetic
lenses to focus the beam to an image.
 The image is formed on a fluorescent screen.
 There are two types of electron microscopes:
 Transmission – produces a two-dimensional image. image
 Scanning – produces images with a three-dimensional
quality.
quality
 Figures 10.2 and 10.3 are diagram of the transmission electron
microscope and the scanning electron microscope.

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PHYSICS CHAPTER 10

Figure 10.2 Figure 10.3 21

PHYSICS CHAPTER 10
Exercise 10.1 :
Given c =3.00× 108 m s−1, h =6.63× 10−34 J s, me=9.11× 10−31 kg and
e=1.60× 10−19 C
1. a. An electron and a photon have the same wavelengths and
the total energy of the electron is 1.0 MeV. Calculate the
energy of the photon.
b. A particle moves with a speed that is three times that of an
electron. If the ratio of the de Broglie wavelength of this
particle and the electron is 1.813× 10−4, calculate the mass
of the particle.
ANS. : 1.62× 10−13 J; 1.67× 10−27 kg
2. a. An electron that is accelerated from rest through a
potential difference V0 has a de Broglie wavelength λ 0. If
the electron’s wavelength is doubled, determine the
potential difference requires in terms of V0.
b. Why can an electron microscope resolve smaller objects
than a light microscope?
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(Physics, 3rd edition, James S. Walker, Q12 & Q11, p.1029)
PHYSICS CHAPTER 10

Next Chapter…
CHAPTER 11 :
Bohr’s model of hydrogen atom

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