Question

Is the wavelength comparable to the size of atoms?

Answer 1

The wavelength of objects like baseballs is extremely small compared to the size of atoms, rendering such wavelengths undetectable in the macroscopic world. However, for subatomic particles like electrons, their wavelength can be comparable to the size of atoms, influencing their behavior and energy levels within the atom. X-rays have wavelengths comparable to the size of the structures they interact with, allowing them to be effective in observing atomic and molecular structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the size of an atom, which is typically on the order of 0.1 nanometers (10-10 meters), and comparing it to the wavelengths of various particles or types of radiation, we can make several observations. For instance, the diameter of an atom's nucleus is approximately 10⁻¹⁴ meters.

If we calculate the wavelength of a 0.145 kg baseball moving at 40 m/s, the resultant wavelength would be about 10-34 meters. This is immeasurably small compared to the size of an atom, indicating Their wavelength is very small compared to the object's size.

However, for subatomic particles like electrons, the wavelength is of the same order of magnitude as the size of an atom. The wavelike behavior of electrons is significant when they are confined within the atom, as this affects their possible energy levels. In the case of X-rays, the wavelength is comparable to the size of the structures it interacts with, such as the distances between atoms in a molecule, allowing X-rays to 'see' these structures.

If we scale an atom up to a size comparable to a mid-sized campus, the nucleus would be only a tiny fraction of that size, possibly comparable to a small familiar object like a marble.

Answer 2

It totally depends on what kind of wave you're talking about.

-- a sound wave from a trumpet or clarinet playing a concert-A pitch is about 78 centimeters long ... about 2 and 1/2 feet. This is bigger than atoms.

-- a radio wave from an AM station broadcasting on 550 KHz, at the bottom of your radio dial, is about 166 feet long ... maybe comparable to the height of a 10-to-15-story building. This is bigger than atoms.

-- a radio wave heating the leftover meatloaf inside your "microwave" oven is about 4.8 inches long ... maybe comparable to the length of your middle finger. this is bigger than atoms.

-- a deep rich cherry red light wave ... the longest one your eye can see ... is around 750 nanometers long. About 34,000 of them all lined up will cover an inch. These are pretty small, but still bigger than atoms.

-- the shortest wave that would be called an "X-ray" is 0.01 nanometer long. You'd have to line up 2.5 billion of those babies to cover an inch. Hold on to these for a second ... there's one more kind of wave to mention.

-- This brings us to "gamma rays" ... our name for the shortest of all electromagnetic waves. To be a gamma ray, it has to be shorter than 0.01 nanometer.

Talking very very very very roughly, atoms range in size from about 0.025 nanometers to about 0.26 nanometers.

The short end of the X-rays, and on down through the gamma rays, are in this neighborhood.