Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]PhysicsPhotoelectric Effect and Wave–Particle Duality
An electron and a proton are accelerated through an identical potential difference. Let _e and _p represent the de Broglie wavelengths of the electron and the proton, respectively.
Options
- A_e < _p
- B_e = _p
- C_e > _p
- DThe relationship between _e and _p depends on the accelerating potential difference.
Correct answer
C. _e > _p
Step-by-step solution
The de Broglie wavelength of a particle accelerated through a potential difference V is given by = h 2mqV . For an electron and a proton, the magnitude of the charge q and the accelerating potential difference V are identical. This implies that 1 m . Since the mass of an electron is much less than the mass of a proton ( m_e Therefore, _e > _p .