The de Broglie wavelengths of a proton and an $\alpha$ particle are $\lambda$ and $2 \lambda$ respectively. The ratio of the velocities of proton and $\alpha$ particle will be :
Solution
<p>To find the ratio of velocities of two particles based on their de Broglie wavelengths, we can use the de Broglie wavelength formula, which relates the momentum of a particle to its wavelength. The de Broglie's wavelength formula is given by:</p>
<p>$\lambda = \frac{h}{p}$</p>
<p>where:<br>
<p>$\lambda$ is the de Broglie wavelength,<br></p>
<p>$h$ is the Planck constant, and<br></p>
<p>$p$ is the momentum of the particle.</p></p>
<p>The momentum $p$ of a particle can also be expressed as the product of its mass $m$ and velocity $v$:</p>
<p>$p = mv$</p>
<p>So, we can rewrite the de Broglie wavelength equation in terms of mass and velocity:</p>
<p>$\lambda = \frac{h}{mv}$</p>
<p>For the proton (let's use subscript $p$ for proton), the wavelength is $\lambda$:</p>
<p>$\lambda_p = \frac{h}{m_p v_p}$</p>
<p>For the $\alpha$ particle (let's use subscript $\alpha$ for alpha), the wavelength is $2\lambda$:</p>
<p>$2\lambda = \frac{h}{m_\alpha v_\alpha}$</p>
<p>We are interested in finding the ratio of the velocities $\frac{v_p}{v_\alpha}$. Using the given data about wavelengths:</p>
<p>$\lambda_p = \lambda$</p>
<p>$\lambda_\alpha = 2\lambda$</p>
<p>Using the de Broglie equation for both particles:</p>
<p>$\frac{h}{m_p v_p} = \lambda$</p>
<p>$\frac{h}{m_\alpha v_\alpha} = 2\lambda$</p>
<p>Dividing the second equation by the first equation gives us:</p>
<p>$\frac{\frac{h}{m_\alpha v_\alpha}}{\frac{h}{m_p v_p}} = \frac{2\lambda}{\lambda}$</p>
<p>$\frac{m_p v_p}{m_\alpha v_\alpha} = \frac{2}{1}$</p>
<p>$\frac{v_p}{v_\alpha} = \frac{2m_\alpha}{m_p}$</p>
<p>Since we know an $\alpha$ particle consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons (essentially four nucleons), the mass of an $\alpha$ particle is roughly four times the mass of a proton ($m_\alpha \approx 4m_p$).</p>
<p>Substituting $m_\alpha$ with $4m_p$ in the equation:</p>
<p>$\frac{v_p}{v_\alpha} = \frac{2(4m_p)}{m_p}$</p>
<p>$\frac{v_p}{v_\alpha} = 2 \cdot 4$</p>
<p>$\frac{v_p}{v_\alpha} = 8$</p>
<p>Therefore, the ratio of the velocities of proton to $\alpha$ particle is $8:1$, which corresponds to Option A.</p>
About this question
Subject: Physics · Chapter: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation · Topic: de Broglie Hypothesis
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