Wave properties of matter

Material particles behave as waves with a wavelength given by the De

Broglie wavelength (Planck’s constant/momentum)

The particles are diffracted by passing through an aperture in a similar

manner as light waves.

The wave properties of particles mean that when you confine it in a

small space its momentum (and kinetic energy) must increase.
(uncertainty principle) This is responsible for the size of the atom.
1.In the last chapter you learned that light has wave-like properties and particle-like
properties. Can you think of anything else that might have both wave-like properties and
particle-like properties?
2.Decide whether each of the following statements is true or false.
(a) Einstein was the first scientist to propose matter waves.
(b) You can see baseballs diffract when you throw them.
(c) The de Broglie's wave equation can only be applied to matter traveling at the speed
of light.
(d) Most matter waves are very small, and that is why scientists didn't realize matter had
wave-like properties until the 1920s.
3.Choose the correct word in each of the following statements.
(a) The (more/less) massive an object is, the longer its wavelength is.
(b) The (faster/slower) an object is traveling, the shorter its wavelength is.
(c) A particle with a mass of 1.0 g has a (longer/shorter) wavelength than a particle with
a mass of 3.0 g if both are traveling at the same speed.
(d) A baseball moving at 10 m/s has a (longer/shorter) wavelength than a baseball
moving at 4 m/s.
4.Choose the correct word in each of the following statements
(a) An electron has a (longer/shorter) wavelength than a proton if both are traveling at
the same speed.
(b) An electron wave has a (higher/lower) frequency than a proton wave if both particles
are traveling at the same speed.
(c) If you want to increase the wavelength of an electron, you should (slow the electron
down/speed the electron up).
1.Choose the correct statement from the options below. The factors that influence an
object's wavelength are…
(a) Only the speed of the object
(b) Only the speed of light
(c) The speed of light and the mass of the object
(d) Only the mass of the object
(e) The speed of the object and the mass of the object

2.Choose the correct statement from the options below.

(a) Light behaves only like a wave, and matter behaves only like a particle
(b) Light behaves only like a wave, and matter behaves only like a wave
(c) Light behaves only like a particle, and matter behaves only like a wave
(d) Light behaves like a wave and like a particle, but matter only behaves like a particle
(e) Light behaves only like a wave, but matter behaves like a wave and like a particle
(f) Light behaves like a wave and like a particle, and matter behaves like a wave and
like a particle as well
1.Fill in each of the following blanks.
(a) de Broglie used the equations ___________ and _________ to derive an
equation for the wavelength of a matter wave.
(b) Scientists first saw matter waves by looking for them in _________. This
was a good idea, because ________ are small enough to have matter
waves that can be observed in a laboratory.
2.What is the wavelength of a 5.0 kg bowling ball that rolls down the lane at 2.0
m/s?
3.If you walk through a door at 1.0 m/s, and you weight 120 lbs (or 54 kg), what
is your wavelength? (This is also approximately the width of the door that
would cause your body to diffract.)
4.A car has a mass of 1250 kg. If the car's wavelength is 2.41×10−38 m, at what
speed is the car traveling?
5.A bobsled sliding down the run at 14.8 m/s has a wavelength of
1.79×10−37 m. What is the total mass of the bobsled?