Matter Waves | Show Me The Physics

Matter Waves lesson illustration

Can electrons passing through 2 slits
produce an interference pattern?

School blocks YouTube? Use file below.

Wave Nature of Electrons
- whatthebleep.com

D) Matter Waves - ALL moving particles have wave properties.

λ = h/p = h/mv

p = momentum of the particle

λ - called DeBroglie Wavelength

h - Planck's constant

The wavelength of ordinary objects are insignificant because
their masses are too large.

BUT…

Electrons are small enough

to have a significant
wave behavior.

1927- Diffraction and interference patterns were observed for electrons.

A scientist passed electrons through tiny double slits and observed interference patterns

Where did they get slits small enough
and close enough?

Pattern produced when a beam of

electrons pass through a double slit

Matter Waves lesson illustration

When you pass a beam of electrons through the slits of a crystal you get an interference pattern

Final Summary

IS LIGHT A WAVE OR A PARTICLE?

Matter Waves lesson illustration

Light behaves like a
wave in interaction
with large objects

and like particle with very small objects
like electrons

Matter Waves lesson illustration

- Douglas Hofstadter

Check Your Understanding

5 quick questions — pick an answer to see if you’re right.

1. According to de Broglie, which objects have wave properties?

2. The de Broglie wavelength of a particle is given by…

3. An electron's speed is doubled. What happens to its de Broglie wavelength?

4. Why don't we notice the wave behavior of a thrown baseball?

5. What 1927 observation confirmed that electrons behave like waves?