Wavelength of Particles Moving at 1m/s

In summary, the relationship between wavelength and velocity is that they are directly proportional. The wavelength can be calculated by dividing the Planck's constant by the mass of the particle at a specific velocity. A particle cannot have a wavelength of 0 while moving at a constant velocity. The wavelength remains constant if the velocity is constant. Lastly, an increase in mass results in a decrease in wavelength due to the inverse proportionality between the two.
  • #1
Daniel Petka
122
12
I heard that even particles with a mass can be described as waves. The frequency of the waves increases with the speed of the particle.
So what would be the wavelength of an electron moving at, let's say, 1m/s?
 
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  • #2
You can Google for "de Broglie wavelength" to find the formula you need to calculate the result for yourself.

The trickier part is understanding what physical significance this quantity has - "particles can be described as waves" is a bit vague.
 
  • #3
Thanks
 

1. What is the relationship between wavelength and velocity?

The wavelength of a moving particle is directly proportional to its velocity. This means that as the velocity of a particle increases, its wavelength also increases.

2. How do you calculate the wavelength of a particle moving at 1m/s?

The formula for calculating the wavelength of a particle is: wavelength = Planck's constant / mass x velocity. At a velocity of 1m/s, the wavelength can be calculated by dividing the Planck's constant by the mass of the particle.

3. Can a particle moving at 1m/s have a wavelength of 0?

No, a particle cannot have a wavelength of 0 while moving at 1m/s. According to the formula, the wavelength will always be a non-zero value, even at a low velocity.

4. Does the wavelength of a particle change if its velocity is constant?

No, the wavelength of a particle does not change if its velocity is constant. As mentioned before, the wavelength is directly proportional to the velocity of the particle. Therefore, if the velocity remains constant, the wavelength will also remain constant.

5. How does the wavelength of a particle change if its mass is increased?

If the mass of a particle increases, the wavelength will decrease. This is because the wavelength is inversely proportional to the mass of the particle. As the mass increases, the denominator in the formula also increases, resulting in a smaller wavelength.

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