Electrons moving in a beam have the same de Broglie wavelength as protons moving in a separate beam. The proton beam moves at a speed of 3.1 x 10^4 m/s. What is the speed of the electrons?

From the data sheet, the de Broglie wavelength, 𝜆 = h/p = h/(mv)
The electron wavelength equals the proton wavelength so: 𝜆e = 𝜆p
So: h/(meve) = h/(mpvp)
meve = mpvp
so the electron speed, ve = (mpvp)/me
From the data sheet, the rest mass of an electron and a proton respectively are: me = 9.11x10-31kg, and: mp = 1.67x10-27kg
Subbing these values along with the proton speed from the question gives:
ve = (1.67x10-27 x 3.1x104)/( 9.11x10-31)
ve = 5.7x107ms-1

AG

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe the photoelectric effect and what it tells us about the properties of light .


A person stands on top of a cliff and throws a ball with a speed of 20 m/s at an angle of 10 degrees from above the horizontal into the sea. What is the height of the cliff to 1 decimal place?


A given star has a peak emission wavelength of 60nm, lies 7.10*10^19m away and the intensity of its electromagnetic radiation reaching the Earth is 3.33*10^-8Wm^-2. Calculate the star's diameter


How many joules of heat energy are required to raise the temperature of 10kg of water from 22⁰C to 27⁰C? (The Specific Heat Capacity of water is 4200 Jkg^-1⁰C^-1)