This document discusses evidence that electrons exhibit both particle and wave properties, and provides instructions for an experiment to calculate Planck's constant using an LED. It introduces the de Broglie relation that links the wave and particle characteristics of a particle. It also gives calculations to determine the wavelengths of electrons accelerated through 1000V, neutrons at room temperature, and a moving soccer ball, and discusses why wave characteristics can be observed for electrons and neutrons but not soccer balls.
This document discusses evidence that electrons exhibit both particle and wave properties, and provides instructions for an experiment to calculate Planck's constant using an LED. It introduces the de Broglie relation that links the wave and particle characteristics of a particle. It also gives calculations to determine the wavelengths of electrons accelerated through 1000V, neutrons at room temperature, and a moving soccer ball, and discusses why wave characteristics can be observed for electrons and neutrons but not soccer balls.
This document discusses evidence that electrons exhibit both particle and wave properties, and provides instructions for an experiment to calculate Planck's constant using an LED. It introduces the de Broglie relation that links the wave and particle characteristics of a particle. It also gives calculations to determine the wavelengths of electrons accelerated through 1000V, neutrons at room temperature, and a moving soccer ball, and discusses why wave characteristics can be observed for electrons and neutrons but not soccer balls.
This document discusses evidence that electrons exhibit both particle and wave properties, and provides instructions for an experiment to calculate Planck's constant using an LED. It introduces the de Broglie relation that links the wave and particle characteristics of a particle. It also gives calculations to determine the wavelengths of electrons accelerated through 1000V, neutrons at room temperature, and a moving soccer ball, and discusses why wave characteristics can be observed for electrons and neutrons but not soccer balls.
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Matter waves
12 Describe briefly the evidence that electrons behave as:
(a) particles (b) waves. 13 Both radiation and matter are said to exhibit ‘wave– particle’ duality. Explain the meaning of this term. What is the nature of the wave associated with a particle such as the electron? 14 Write down the de Broglie relation that links the wave and particle characteristics of a particle. Explain the meaning of the terms in this equation. Does the de Broglie relation apply to quanta of electromagnetic radiation? 15 Calculate the wavelengths of the following particles: (a) an electron that has been accelerated through a p.d. of 1000 V (b) a neutron with energy kT, where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is room temperature (293 K) (c) a soccer ball (m = 0.43 kg) travelling at 20 m s−1. 16 Looking back at question 15, discuss the circumstances in which it would be possible to observe the diffraction of electrons and neutrons. Explain why the wave characteristics of soccer balls cannot be detected. mn = 1.67 × 10−27 kg; k = 1.38 × 10−23 J K−1 Practical exercises and challenges 1 Use a photocell to design a burglar alarm. Your design could be based on the circuit shown in Figure 28.10b. 2 Figure 28.13 shows a circuit you can use to find the Planck constant by measuring the voltage drop across an LED (light-emitting diode) and the wavelength of the radiation it emits. V A spectrometer to measure LED + Figure 28.13 Measurement of h with an LED. Theory When an LED conducts, electrons lose energy by combining with holes in the junction region. The energy lost is emitted as photons of visible light. Assuming the LED has negligible resistance then the electrical energy supplied by the battery must be equal to the energy emitted as light. Now if V is the voltage drop across the diode then, energy change per electron = eV energy of photon = hf = h cλ therefore, eV = h cλ and so h = eVλ c Procedure 1 Set up the circuit as shown. 2 Start with the variable resistor set at its maximum value. 3 Slowly reduce the resistance until the LED just switches on. 4 Note the voltage drop across the LED when it just starts to operate. 5 By adjusting the variable resistor, record data to plot a graph of current against voltage for the LED. 6 Use a spectrometer to measure the wavelength of the light emitted by the LED (alternatively look up this wavelength on the datasheet for the particular LED you are using). Analysis The voltage value you require is the voltage drop when the diode just operates with minimum current. You can then assume that all the energy supplied by the battery is transferred to photons, and energy lost through resistive heating is zero. Obtain the best value for V by extrapolating your graph of V against I back to I = 0. Calculate h from your measured values for V and λ using the equation above. Answers to ITQs 1 (a) This suggests that ultraviolet light can discharge a negatively charged plate by giving electrons enough energy to escape from its surface. Ejecting electrons from a positively charged plate would require more energy (since the electrons are attracted back to the plate) and would increase the net positive charge of the plate. (b) This suggests that ultraviolet light can transfer sufficient energy to an electron for it to escape from the plate; but visible light cannot. (c) This suggests that the glass absorbs ultraviolet light. (d) This suggests that either electrons cannot travel through the layer of oxide that forms on zinc exposed to the atmosphere; or this layer absorbs UV radiation.