Compute the typical de Broglie wavelength of an electron in a metal at $27\,^{\circ} C$ and compare it with the mean separation between two electrons in a metal which is given to be about $2 \times 10^{-10} \; m$.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) The temperature is $T = 27^{\circ} C = 27 + 273 = 300 \; K$.
The mean separation between two electrons is $r = 2 \times 10^{-10} \; m$.
The de Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ of an electron at temperature $T$ is given by the formula $\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{3mkT}}$, where $k$ is the Boltzmann constant.
Given constants:
$h = 6.63 \times 10^{-34} \; J \cdot s$
$m = 9.11 \times 10^{-31} \; kg$
$k = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} \; J/K$
Substituting the values:
$\lambda = \frac{6.63 \times 10^{-34}}{\sqrt{3 \times 9.11 \times 10^{-31} \times 1.38 \times 10^{-23} \times 300}}$
$\lambda = \frac{6.63 \times 10^{-34}}{\sqrt{11.30 \times 10^{-51}}}$
$\lambda = \frac{6.63 \times 10^{-34}}{3.36 \times 10^{-25}} \approx 1.97 \times 10^{-9} \; m$.
Comparing this with the mean separation $r = 2 \times 10^{-10} \; m$, we see that $\lambda \approx 19.7 \times 10^{-10} \; m$, which is about $10$ times larger than the mean separation between electrons.

Explore More

Similar Questions

The resolving power of an optical instrument depends on the wavelength of the light used. An electron microscope uses a beam of electrons. Its resolving power can be increased if we:

The de Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ associated with a proton increases by $25 \%$,if its momentum is decreased by $p_0$. The initial momentum was

$A$ material particle with a rest mass $m_0$ is moving with the velocity of light $C$. Then,the wavelength of the de$-$Broglie wave associated with it is

The $log-log$ graph between the energy $E$ of an electron and its de-Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ will be

Difficult
View Solution

The accelerating voltage of an electron gun is $50,000 \ V$. What will be the de Broglie wavelength of the electron in $\mathring{A}$?

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo