Quantum mechanics

The word quantum means ‘how much’ in Latin.

In physics, the idea of discreetness is associated with the word ‘quantum’.
The problem that gave birth to the ideas of quantum mechanics was
theoretical understanding of blackbody radiation spectrum.
Max Plank proposed a theory that could explain the spectrum of
blackbody successfully. In this theory, Plank introduced the idea of
discreet energy of vibrating electrons.
In photoelectric effect, Einstein extended the idea of discreet energy to
radiation. In this theory Einstein also proposed dual nature of radiation, i.e.,
radiation behaves like a wave and a particle.
The universe is observed in the form of radiation or matter.
De Broglie extended the idea of dual nature to matter. In de Broglie
hypothesis, the wavelength of wave associated with a particle that has a
momentum p is defined as
ℎ ℎ
𝜆= =
𝑝 𝑚𝑣
For a particle of mass m, the kinetic energy of particle is
𝑝2 ℎ
𝐾𝐸 = ⟹𝑝= 2𝑚 𝐾𝐸 . Hence, 𝜆 =
2𝑚 2𝑚 𝐾𝐸
For a gas at temperature T, having m as the mass of gas molecule,
𝑃2 3 ℎ
= 𝑘𝑇 ⟹ 𝑝 = 3𝑚𝑘𝑇. Hence, 𝜆 =
2𝑚 2 3𝑚𝑘𝑇
For an electron that is accelerated through a potential V,
𝑝2 ℎ
= 𝑒𝑉 ⟹ 𝑝 = 2𝑚𝑒𝑉. Hence, 𝜆 =
2𝑚 2𝑚𝑒𝑉
Problem- Calculate de Broglie wavelength of (a) 1000 kg automobile moving at 100m/s (b)
10 g bullet of kinetic energy 1250 J (c) gas molecule of mass 10-13 g at temperature of 241 K
(d) an electron accelerated through a potential of 10 V.
ℎ ℎ 6.63×10−34
(a) 𝜆 = = = = 6.63 × 10−39 m
𝑝 𝑚𝑣 1000×100
ℎ 6.63×10−34
(b) 𝜆 = = = 1.33 × 10−34 𝑚
2𝑚 𝐾𝐸 2×(10×10−3 )×1250
ℎ 6.63×10−34
(c) 𝜆 = = = 6.64 × 10−16 𝑚
3𝑚𝑘𝑇 3×(10−13 ×10−3 )×1.38×10−23 ×241
ℎ 6.63×10−34
(d) 𝜆 = = = 3.88 × 10−10 𝑚
2𝑚𝑒𝑉 2×(9.1×10−31 )×1.6×10−19 ×10
The smallness of h makes quantum effects impossible to be observed on
macroscopic scale.
De Broglie waves or matter waves are probability waves and the amplitude
of the wave is associated with the probability of finding a particle at that
point.