Practice portal › Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation › Photons, Matter Waves and X-rays

The wavelength of matter waves is independent of ______.

Asked in GUJCET 2007 · de Broglie relation and its graphs

Answer: (1) charge

Step-by-step solution

Idea: de Broglie's relation λ = h/p = h/(mv).

The wavelength depends on momentum, and so on mass and velocity.

Charge does not appear in the relation: a neutron and a proton with the same momentum have the same wavelength.

Charge matters only indirectly, for example through the energy qV a particle gains in an accelerating field.

So the wavelength of matter waves is independent of charge.

Why the other options are wrong

More Photons, Matter Waves and X-rays questionsAll Photons, Matter Waves and X-rays questions →

Reading this solution needs no sign-in. You only sign in to practise against the clock and keep your progress.

Practise this with a timer