Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Wave Properties of Particles

10.1 The de Broglie Wavelength
L.O 10.1.1 State wave-particle duality

L.O 10.1.2 Use de Broglie wavelength

 Wave-particle duality is the phenomenon where under certain circumstances a particle

exhibits wave properties, and under other conditions a wave exhibits properties of a
particle. But we cannot observe both aspect of its behaviour simultaneously.
 According to the Planck’s quantum theory, a photon of electromagnetic radiation of
wavelength λ has energy:

hc
E  hf  (1)


 According to Einstein’s theory of special relativity, the energy equivalent E of a mass m

is given by:

E  mc 2 (2)

Since momentum p = mc, the equation can also be written as E = pc.

 By equating (1) and (2):

hc
 pc


h
 De Broglie
p Wavelength
Property of
wave
Property of
particle
 Evidences to show duality of light:

Light Particle can

behave as a wave

can behave as
Electron Diffraction
(Davisson-Germer
Particle Wave Experiment)
Photoelectric Effect Young’s Double Slit
experiment
Compton effect Diffraction grating
experiment

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10.2 Electron Diffraction

L.O 10.2.1 Describe the observation of electron diffraction in Davisson-Germer
experiment

Electron diffraction tube

 In 1927, two physicists C.J Davission and L. H Germer carried out electron diffraction
experiment to prove the de Broglie relationship.
 A graphite film is used as a target.
 A beam of electrons in a cathode-ray tube is accelerated by the applied voltage towards a
graphite film.
 The beam of electrons is diffracted after passing through the graphite film.
 A diffraction pattern is observed on the fluorescence screen.
 This shows that a beam of fast moving particles (electrons) behaves as a wave, exhibiting
diffraction – a wave property.
 Davisson and Germer discovered that if the velocity of electrons is increased, the rings
are seen to become narrower showing that the wavelength of electrons decreases with
increasing velocity as predicted by de Broglie relationship.

h
 , v ,  
mv

 The velocity of electrons can be determined from the accelerating voltage (voltage
between anode and cathode):

U K

2eV
eV 
1 2
mv v
2 m
 By substituting equation above into de Broglie relation:

h

2meV
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L.O 10.2.2 Explain the wave behaviour of electron in an electron microscope

L.O 10.2.3 State the advantages of electron microscope compared to optical

microscope

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.
o The resolving power is inversely proportional to the wavelength - a smaller
wavelength means greater resolving power, or the ability to see details.

 This is because the electrons can be accelerated to a very high kinetic energy (KE) giving
them a very short wavelength λ typically 100 times shorter than those of visible light.

 As a result, electron microscopes are able to distinguish details about 100 times smaller.
o Thus, an electron microscope can distinguish clearly 2 points separated by a distance
which is of the order of nanometer.
o But a compound microscope can only distinguish clearly 2 points separated by a
distance which is of order of micrometer.

 There are two types of electron microscopes:

o Transmission – produces a two-dimensional image.
o Scanning – produces images with a three-dimensional quality.

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Wave behaviour of electron in an electron microscope

1. In the electron microscope, electrons are produced by the electron gun.

2. Electrons are accelerated by voltages on the order of 105 V have wavelengths on the order
of 0.004 nm.
3. Electrons are deflected by the “magnetic lens” to form a parallel beam which then incident
on the object.
4. The “magnetic lens” is actually magnetic fields that exert forces on the electrons to bring
them to a focus. The fields are produced by carefully designed current-carrying coils of
wire.
5. When the object is struck by the electrons, more penetrate in some parts than in others,
depending on the thickness and density of the part.
6. The image is formed on a fluorescent screen. The image is brightest where most
electrons have been transmitted. The object must be very thin, otherwise too much
electron scattering occurs and no image form.

Example

Question Solution
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength for :
a) A car of mass 2×103 kg moving at 50 m s -1.
b) An electron of mass 9.11×10-31 kg moving
at 1×108 m s-1.

In a photoelectric effect experiment, a light

source of wavelength 500 nm is incident on a
potassium surface. Find the momentum and
energy of a photon used.

An electron is accelerated from rest through a

potential difference of 1200 V. Calculate its de
Broglie wavelength.

An electron and a proton have the same kinetic

energy. Determine the ratio of the de Broglie
wavelength of the electron to that of the proton.

Why can an electron microscope resolve smaller

objects than a light microscope?