The de-Broglie wavelength of an electron is the same as that of a photon. If velocity of electron is $25 \%$ of the velocity of light, then the ratio of K.E. of electron and K.E. of photon will be:
Solution
<p>We know that the de-Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ of a particle is given by:</p>
<p>$\lambda = \frac{h}{p}$</p>
<p>where:</p>
<ul>
<li>$h$ is Planck's constant,</li>
<li>$p$ is the momentum of the particle.</li>
</ul>
<p>For a photon (which has zero rest mass), its energy $E$ and momentum $p$ are related by the equation:</p>
<p>$E = cp$</p>
<p>and its de-Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ is given by:</p>
<p>$\lambda = \frac{h}{E} \times \frac{1}{c}$</p>
<p>Now, since the photon and electron are said to have the same de-Broglie wavelength:</p>
<p>$\lambda_{electron} = \lambda_{photon}$</p>
<p>$\frac{h}{p_{electron}} = \frac{h}{E_{photon}} \times \frac{1}{c}$</p>
<p>For the electron, its momentum $p_{electron}$ is given by:</p>
<p>$p_{electron} = m_{e}v_{electron}$</p>
<p>where:</p>
<ul>
<li>$m_{e}$ is the electron's rest mass,</li>
<li>$v_{electron}$ is the electron's velocity.</li>
</ul>
<p>The kinetic energy $K.E.$ of the electron is:</p>
<p>$K.E._{electron} = \frac{1}{2}m_{e}v_{electron}^2$</p>
<p>The question states that $v_{electron}$ is $25\%$ ($0.25c$) of the speed of light $c$. So we write:</p>
<p>$v_{electron} = 0.25c$</p>
<p>Plugging this into the kinetic energy formula, we get:</p>
<p>$$K.E._{electron} = \frac{1}{2}m_{e}(0.25c)^2 = \frac{1}{2}m_{e} \times \frac{1}{16}c^2$$</p>
<p>$K.E._{electron} = \frac{1}{32}m_{e}c^2$</p>
<p>For a photon, $p_{photon} = \frac{E_{photon}}{c}$ and hence its kinetic energy (which, for a photon, is simply its energy) is:</p>
<p>$K.E._{photon} = E_{photon} = cp_{photon}$</p>
<p>Now, comparing the kinetic energies:</p>
<p>$\frac{K.E._{electron}}{K.E._{photon}} = \frac{\frac{1}{32}m_{e}c^2}{cp_{photon}}$</p>
<p>Since $p_{electron} = p_{photon}$ (from the de-Broglie relation), we can replace $p_{photon}$ with $p_{electron}$ which is $m_{e}v_{electron}$:</p>
<p>$$\frac{K.E._{electron}}{K.E._{photon}} = \frac{\frac{1}{32}m_{e}c^2}{m_{e}v_{electron}c}$$</p>
<p>$\frac{K.E._{electron}}{K.E._{photon}} = \frac{\frac{1}{32}c}{0.25c}$</p>
<p>$\frac{K.E._{electron}}{K.E._{photon}} = \frac{1}{32} \times \frac{1}{0.25}$</p>
<p>$\frac{K.E._{electron}}{K.E._{photon}} = \frac{1}{32} \times 4$</p>
<p>$\frac{K.E._{electron}}{K.E._{photon}} = \frac{1}{8}$</p>
<p>So the correct answer is Option C $\frac{1}{8}$. </p>
About this question
Subject: Physics · Chapter: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation · Topic: de Broglie Hypothesis
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