Question

If we increase the momentum of a particle, what happens to its de Broglie wavelength?

A. stays the same

B. decreases

C. increases

Answer 1

The concept behind this theory is that of Matter Waves. Here the wave-particle duality is represented. According to the French scientist De Broglie, the wavelength associated with a massive particle is related to its momentum, p, through the Planck constant, h. Mathematically it can be described as,

`\lambda = (h)/(p)`

Here we can deduce that the momentum is inversely proportional to the wavelength,

`\lambda \propto (1)/(p)`

Therefore if P increases the wavelength decrease.

The correct answer is B.