Wave particle duality

What does diffraction and superposition of light rely on?

Electromagnetic radiation acting as a wave

What does the photoelectric effect rely on?

Electromagnetic radiation acting as discrete photons

What does electromagnetic radiation demonstrate?

Having a dual nature called wave particle duality

What did De Broglie discover?

All matter can act as a wave and particle and that wavelength is inversely proportional to its momentum

What is De Broglie’s equation?

λ = h /p = h /mv

λ = wavelength (m)

h = Planck constant (6.63 × 10^-34)

p = momentum (kgms^-1)

m = mass (kg)

v = velocity (ms^-1)

What is De Broglies equation applicable to and what effect does it have?

All particles with mass, greater mass means wavelength decreases making them harder to observe ‘wave like’ properties

How is wave particle duality demonstrated?

Electron gun with thin polycrystalline graphite

Explain the demonstration of wave particle duality

Electrons accelerated through a pd with a small gap in the anode to create a thin beam of electrons. Then they’re diffracted by the gaps between atoms to produce a diffraction pattern (a property of waves) when the polycrystalline screen is hit

What is the main characteristic of polycrystalline graphite?

Carbon atoms spread across many layers