A proton and an electron are both accelerated to the same final speed.If λ_p is the de Broglie wavelength of the proton and λ_e is the de Broglie wavelength of the electron,then A)λ_p λ_e. B)λ_p = λ_e. C)λ_p

Question

A proton and an electron are both accelerated to the same final speed.If λ_p is the de Broglie wavelength of the proton and λ_e is the de Broglie wavelength of the electron,then A)λ_p > λ_e. B)λ_p = λ_e. C)λ_p < λ_e.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The de Broglie wavelength, λ, is given by λ = h/p, where h is Planck's constant and p is the momentum of the particle. Since momentum p = mv (mass times velocity), and both particles are given the same final speed, the particle with the smaller mass (electron) will have a smaller momentum and thus a larger de Broglie wavelength compared to the proton.

A Proton and an Electron Are Both Accelerated to the Same