Can Atoms in Liquids Be Considered Classically?

Thread starter Radiohannah
Start date Nov 8, 2010
Tags

Fluids

AI Thread Summary

Atoms in liquids can be considered classically because their deBroglie wavelength is significantly smaller than the atomic spacing. To demonstrate this, one can use the deBroglie wavelength formula, λ = h/mv, where h is Planck's constant and m is the mass of the atom. The velocity (v) can be derived from kinetic energy, using either E = kT or E = (3/2)kT, depending on the context. The discussion highlights the relationship between temperature, kinetic energy, and atomic behavior in liquids. Understanding these principles clarifies why classical mechanics applies to atomic interactions in liquid states.

Nov 8, 2010

Radiohannah

Hey

Just wondering why atoms in liquids can be considered classically

If you compare the deBroglie wavelength with the atomic spacing, I understand that the deBroglie wavelength should be much smaller than the spacing.

But how could you show that?

If

\lambda = \frac{h}{mv}

How would you know the velocity?

Physics news on Phys.org

Nov 8, 2010

Radiohannah

Sorry, DUH, I just thought

E=kT= 0.5mv^2

Silly me

Nov 8, 2010

quantum123

Should it be kT or \frac{3kT}{2} ?

Last edited: Nov 8, 2010

Thread 'Light speedup question'

If light travels in a wave, couldn't we "speed it up" by making it travel in a straight line?

View full post »

Thread 'Question about pressure of a liquid'

I am looking at pressure in liquids and I am testing my idea. The vertical tube is 100m, the contraption is filled with water. The vertical tube is very thin(maybe 1mm^2 cross section). The area of the base is ~100m^2. Will he top half be launched in the air if suddenly it cracked?- assuming its light enough. I want to test my idea that if I had a thin long ruber tube that I lifted up, then the pressure at "red lines" will be high and that the $force = pressure * area$ would be massive...

View full post »

Thread 'Why is the 3 body problem unsolvable? And what will happen if someone solves it?'

I feel it should be solvable we just need to find a perfect pattern, and there will be a general pattern since the forces acting are based on a single function, so..... you can't actually say it is unsolvable right? Cause imaging 3 bodies actually existed somwhere in this universe then nature isn't gonna wait till we predict it! And yea I have checked in many places that tiny changes cause large changes so it becomes chaos........ but still I just can't accept that it is impossible to solve...

View full post »