# Homework Help: De Broglie

1. Oct 6, 2004

### Rachael_Victoria

Ok so my homework question says find the de broglie wavelength of a 100 gram ball traveling at 100 miles per hour. So do a little dimensional analysis and 100 mph is 44.704 m/s and since the de broglie wavelength is found with lamda=h/p and p=mv then I am good to go, I get 1.48 x 10^(-24) angstroms for my wavelength.
It then goes on to say "is there any experimental method by which a wavelength of this size might be measured?" So I was thinking you could throw that ball at something stationary, use the equation for compton scattered wavelength and replace c with v (or the 44.704 m/s) and theta with the angle of trajectory, this would give you a calculated wavelength for the ball after having hit something. Then measure the new velocity after impact and actually calculate the new wavelength using the de broglie equation. Am i way off?
thanks
rachael

2. Oct 6, 2004

### Galileo

Compton scattering is when a photon scatters against an electron. The photon is a relativistic particle; you can't use the same idea with a 100 gram ball.

Find the approximate sizes of atoms, nuclei and so. Then compare it with your $10^{-24}$ angstrom.