De Broglie Wavelength at rest: λ = h/p = h/0 when v=0?

  • #1
Kavi
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De Broglie Wavelength is λ = h / p.

So at rest, v=0, and p=mv, so p=0. This means that λ = h/p = h/0 so we run into a divide by 0 issue, or infinite wavelengths for objects at rest.

Is this line of reasoning flawed?

Or can we consider v=1 for rest masses?

Time Dilation is related to v. The faster something moves the slower its internal clock. Lets say at v = c an object experiences no internal time. So its clock we can say it goes to 0.

If v=c, t=1
if v=1, t=c

So we are just using scales from 1->c rather than 0 and infinity. Because time dilates with respect to v, the equation of time and v is of the form t=c/v or vt=c. If v or t become 0 then c would be 0. Hence v and t can only range between 1 and c.

For rest masses we dont see infinite time, if v=0, then time=c/0 = infinite, which is not the case for observed time, so v cannot be 0 at rest.

If c=vt is a constant then time would slow as velocity increases. This is what we observe with time dilation. But forces also cause time dilation, like Gravity. Gravity is a Force, therefore, perhaps Time and Velocity are Forces.

Hence for an object experiencing minimal external Force (Gravity, Movement) it can experience greater rate of Time. We can call this time c, which is the rate of time experienced at the energy level of quantum field fluctuations.

This total rate of Force is c, if the object moves or is under Gravity, the rate of local time decreases accordingly. Reaching a level of no time at velocity c, or for gravity at some threshold, perhaps the event horizon.

The value of v has to be 1 at rest for this to work though. For an object at rest to have velocity =0 would mean its De Broglie wavelength is infinitely long and its time infinitely fast which wouldnt make sense.
 
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  • #2
Kavi said:
So at rest, v=0, and p=mv, so p=0. This means that λ = h/p = h/0 so we run into a divide by 0 issue, or infinite wavelengths for objects at rest.
That's not a problem. It's only like the wavelength of DC EM waves. Remember, the momentum is zero so your 'particle' can't collide with things.
 
  • #3
Kavi said:
c=vt is a constant then time would slow as velocity increases.
You are mixing relativistic and non-relativistic equations and concepts. This will not work.
 
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  • #4
If you want to use relativistic concepts at all, then I would recommend using the relativistic version of the de Broglie relation, which is exceptionally simple: $$P^\mu = \hbar K^\mu$$ where ##P## is the four-momentum ##P^\mu = (E/c,\vec p)## , and ##K## is the four-wavevector ##K^\mu = (\omega/c,\vec k)##.

In a reference frame where a massive particle is at rest then ##\vec p=0## so ##\vec k = 0## which is a perfectly valid wavevector, and there is no division by zero in the de Broglie relation itself.
 
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  • #5
Additionally, I think you need to put some numbers in. For example:

Given a baseball with a wavelength 1/1000 the radius of the ball, what is its momentum? Its velocity? At that rate, how many microns will it travel in a million years?
 
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  • #6
Vanadium 50 said:
Additionally, I think you need to put some numbers in. For example:

Given a baseball with a wavelength 1/1000 the radius of the ball, what is its momentum? Its velocity? At that rate, how many microns will it travel in a million years?
I get about 4 x 10 -9 microns in a million years.
 

1. Why does the de Broglie wavelength become undefined at rest?

At rest, the velocity (v) of a particle is zero, which means its momentum (p), given by the product of mass (m) and velocity (v = mv), is also zero. The de Broglie wavelength formula, λ = h/p, implies division by zero when momentum is zero. Since division by zero is undefined in mathematics, the de Broglie wavelength at rest is considered undefined.

2. What is the significance of the de Broglie wavelength becoming infinite at rest?

Theoretically, if the de Broglie wavelength λ = h/p could be calculated at rest, it would approach infinity as momentum approaches zero. This suggests that the particle's wave-like nature is most pronounced when it is not moving, implying an infinite spread in space. However, this is more a theoretical curiosity than a physical reality, as wave properties are not observable in stationary particles in practical scenarios.

3. How is the de Broglie wavelength typically used in physics?

The de Broglie wavelength is crucial in quantum mechanics, where it is used to describe the wave properties of particles. It is particularly significant in contexts like electron microscopy and the study of atomic and subatomic systems, where understanding the wave-like behavior of particles like electrons helps in predicting their interactions and behavior at quantum scales.

4. Can the de Broglie wavelength be observed directly?

Direct observation of de Broglie wavelengths, especially for particles like electrons, is challenging but can be inferred through experiments such as electron diffraction experiments. These experiments demonstrate the wave nature of particles by showing interference patterns similar to those produced by waves in classical physics.

5. What happens to the de Broglie wavelength as the velocity of a particle increases?

As the velocity of a particle increases, its momentum also increases. Since the de Broglie wavelength is inversely proportional to momentum (λ = h/p), the wavelength decreases as the velocity increases. This decrease in wavelength with increasing velocity is consistent with observations in high-energy physics where particles moving at higher speeds exhibit shorter wavelengths.

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