CHAPTER 25:

Wave properties of particle

(2 Hours)
is a phenomenon where under certain
circumstances a particle exhibits wave
properties and under other conditions a
wave exhibits properties of a particle.

Learning Outcome:
25.1

de Broglie wavelength (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

(a) State wave-particle duality.
(b) Use de Broglie wzvelength,

h
=
p

25.1 de Broglie wavelength

From the Plancks quantum theory, the energy of a photon is

given by
hc
E=
(10.1)

From the Einsteins 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

particle aspect

hc
= pc

h
p=

where

(10.3)
wave aspect

p : momentum
3

From the eq. (10.3), thus light has momentum and exhibits
particle property. This also show light is dualistic in nature,
nature
behaving in 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

Youngs double slit

experiment

Photoelectric effect

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

He proposed that for any particle of momentum p should

have a wavelength given by

h
h
= =
p mv

(10.4)

where

: 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
5

Example 25.1 :
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 =3.00108 m s1 and
Plancks constant, h =6.631034 J s)
9
Solution : = 550 10 m
By using the de Broglie relation, thus

h
=
p

550 10 9

6.63 10 34
=
p

and the energy of the photon is given by

hc
E=

E=

(6.63 10 )(3.00 10 )
34

550 10 9

Example 25.2 :
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength for
a. a jogger of mass 77 kg runs with at speed of 4.1 m s1.
b. an electron of mass 9.111031 kg moving at 3.25105 m s1.
(Given the Plancks constant, h =6.631034 J s)
Solution :
1
a. Given m = 77 kg; v = 4.1 m s
The de Broglie wavelength for the jogger is

h
=
mv

6.63 10 34
=
( 77 )( 4.1)
31

kg; v = 3.25 10 m s
b. Given m = 9.11 10
The de Broglie wavelength for the electron is

6.63 10 34
=
9.11 10 31 3.25 10 5

)(

Example 25.3 :
An electron and a proton have the same speed.
a. Which has the longer de Broglie wavelength? Explain.
b. Calculate the ratio of e/ p.
(Given c =3.00108 m s1, h =6.631034 J s, me=9.111031 kg,
mp=1.671027 kg and e=1.601019 C)

ve = v p = v

Solution :
a. From de Broglie relation,

h
=
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
8

Solution : ve = vp = v
Therefore the ratio of their de Broglie wavelengths is

e me v
=
p h

mp v

mp
=
me
1.67 10 27
=
9.11 10 31

Learning Outcome:
25.2

Electron diffraction (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

Describe the observations of electron diffraction.in
Davisson-Germer experiment.
Explain the wave behaviour of electron in an electron
microscope
State the advantages of electron microscope compared
to optical microscope.
(Relate de Broglie wavelength of electron with the
resolving power of the electron microscope)

10

26.2.1 Davisson-Germer experiment

Figure 10.1 shows a tube for demonstrating electron diffraction

by Davisson and Germer.

graphite film

screen

anode

diffraction
pattern

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.

This experiment proves that the de Broglie relation was right

and the wavelength of the electron is given by

h
=
mv

where

(10.5)

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

across anode and cathode i.e.

U= K

1 2
eV = mv
2
2eV
v=
m

(10.6)
12

By substituting the eq. (10.6) into eq. (10.5), thus

=
Note:

2eV
m

h
2meV

(10.7)

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
13

Example 25.4 :
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 =3.00108 m s1, h =6.631034 J s, me=9.111031 kg and

e=1.601019 C)
Solution :
a. Given V = 2000 V
The de Broglie wavelength for the electron is
6.63 10 34
h
=
=
2 9.11 10 31 1.60 10 19 2000

2meV

)(

14

Solution :
b. Given e

= p = 0.21 10 9 m

For an electron,

6.63 10 34
p=
0.21 10 9
p = 3.16 10 24 kg m s 1
p
1
2
me v and v =
me
2 2
p
2me
24 2
3.16 10
2 9.11 10 31
5.48 10 18
1.60 10 19

Its momentum is

h
p=
e

and its energy is

K=
=

=
=

15

Solution :
b. Given e

= p = 0.21 10 9 m

For a photon,
Its momentum is
and its energy is

p = 3.16 10 24 kg m s 1
hc
E=
p
=

(6.63 10 )(3.00 10 )
34

0.21 10 9
9.47 10 16
=
1.60 10 19

16

Example 25.5 :
Compare the de Broglie wavelength of an electron and a proton if
they have the same kinetic energy.
(Given c =3.00108 m s1, h =6.631034 J s, me=9.111031 kg,
mp=1.671027 kg and e=1.601019 C)
Solution : K e = K p = K
By using the de Broglie wavelength formulae, thus

2meV
h

and

eV = K

2mK

17

Solution : K e = K p = K
Therefore the ratio of their de Broglie wavelengths is

e
=
p

=
=

2mp K
mp
h
2me K

me
1.67 10 27
9.11 10 31
18

25.2.2 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
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.
19

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:
l Transmission produces a two-dimensional image.
image
l 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.

20

Figure 10.2

Figure
10.3
21

Exercise 25.1 :
Given c =3.00108 m s1, h =6.631034 J s, me=9.111031 kg and
e=1.601019 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 1.813104, calculate the mass
of the particle.
ANS. : 1.621013 J; 1.671027 kg
2.
a. An electron that is accelerated from rest through a
potential difference V0 has a de Broglie wavelength 0. If
the electrons 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?
22

(Physics, 3rd edition, James S. Walker, Q12 & Q11, p.1029)