is a phenomenon where under certain

circumstances a particle exhibits wave

properties and under other conditions a
wave exhibits properties of a particle.

CHAPTER 25:
Wave properties of
particle
(2 Hours)

1
Learning Outcome:

25.1 de Broglie wavelength (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 State wave-particle duality.
 Use de Broglie wavelength,
h
p

2
 25.1 de Broglie wavelength
 From the Planck’s quantum theory, the energy of a photon is
given by hc
E (25.1)

 From the Einstein’s special theory of relativity, the energy of a

photon is given by
E mc 2 and mc p
E pc (25.2)
 By equating eqs. (10.1) and (10.2), hence
hc
pc
h
particle aspect p (25.3)
wave aspect
where p : momentum
3
 From the eq. (25.3), thus light has momentum and exhibits
particle property. This also show light is dualistic in nature,
behaving is some situations like wave and in others like
particle (photon) and this phenomenon is called wave particle
duality of light.
 Table 25.1 shows the experiment evidences to show wave
particle duality of light.
Wave Particle
Young’s double slit Photoelectric effect
experiment
Diffraction experiment Compton effect

Table 25.1
 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.

4
 He proposed that for any particle of momentum p should
have a wavelength given by

h h
(25.4)
p mv
where : de Broglie wavelengt h
h : Planck's constant
m : mass of a particle
v : velocity of a particle
Eq. (25.4) is known as de Broglie relation (principle).
 This wave properties of matter is called de Broglie waves or
matter waves.
 The de Broglie relation was confirmed in 1927 when Davisson
and Germer succeeded in diffracting electron which shows
that electrons have wave 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 =3.00 108 m s 1 and
Planck’s constant, h =6.63 10 34 J s)

Answer:
p 1.21 10 27 kg m s 1

19
E 3.62 10 J 6
Example 25.2 :
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength for
a. a jogger of mass 77 kg runs with at speed of 4.1 m s 1.
b. an electron of mass 9.11 10 31 kg moving at 3.25 105 m s 1.
(Given the Planck’s constant, h =6.63 10 34 J s)

Answer:
2.1 10 36 m
2.24 10 9 m 7
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 =3.00 108 m s 1, h =6.63 10 34 J s, me=9.11 10 31 kg,
mp=1.67 10 27 kg and e=1.60 10 19 C)

Answer:
e
1833
p
8
Learning Outcome:

25.2 Electron diffraction (1 hour)

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
 Describe the observation 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.

9
25.2 Electron diffraction
25.2.1 Davisson-Germer experiment
 Figure 25.1 shows a tube for demonstrating electron diffraction
by Davisson and Germer.
graphite film screen diffraction
anode pattern

+4000 V
cathode
electron
diffraction
Figure 25.1: 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.

10
 This experiment proves that the de Broglie relation was right
and the wavelength of the electron is given by
h
(25.5)
mv
where m : mass of an electron
v : velocity of an electron
 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
(eq. 25.5).
 The velocity of electrons are controlled by the applied voltage V
across anode and cathode i.e.
1 2
U K eV mv
2
2eV
v (25.6)
m
11
  By substituting the eq. (25.6) into eq. (25.5), thus
h
2eV
m
m
h
(25.7)
2meV
Note:
 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.
 Diffraction of the particles are observed when the wavelength is of
the same order as the spacing between plane of the atom.

12
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 =3.00 108 m s 1, h =6.63 10 34 J s, me=9.11 10 31 kg and
e=1.60 10 19 C)

Answer:
11
2.75 10 m
24 1
p 3.16 10 24 kg m s 1 , p 3.16 10 kg m s
K 34.3 eV, E 5919 eV 13
Example 25.5 :
Compare the de Broglie wavelength of an electron and a proton if
they have the same kinetic energy.
(Given c =3.00 108 m s 1, h =6.63 10 34 J s, me=9.11 10 31 kg,
mp=1.67 10 27 kg and e=1.60 10 19 C)

Answer:

e
42.8
p
14
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.
 This is because the electrons can be accelerated to a very high
kinetic energy giving them a very short wavelength λ typically
100 times shorter than those of visible light. Therefore the
diffraction effect of electrons as a wave is much less than
that of light.
 As a result, electron microscopes are able to distinguish details
about 100 times smaller.

15
 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:
 Transmission – produces a two-dimensional image.

 Scanning – produces images with a three-dimensional

quality.
 Figures 25.2 and 25.3 are diagram of the transmission electron
microscope and the scanning electron microscope.

16
Figure 25.2 Figure 25.3 17