An electron and a photon have same wavelength #lambda#, what is the ratio of their kinetic energies ??

2 Answers
Nov 1, 2017

Check for error below. See the other solution.

Explanation:

We know that de-Broglie wavelength #lambda# of a particle of mass #m# and momentum #p# is given by the expression

#lambda=h/p#
where #h# is Planck's Constant.

Kinetic energy is given as

#KE=p^2/(2m)#

In terms of de-Broglie wavelength #lambda#

#KE=(h/lambda)^2/(2m)#
#=>KE=h^2/(2mlambda^2)#

Ratio of kinetic energies of electron and proton

#(KE_e)/(KE_p)=(h^2/(2mlambda^2))_e/(h^2/(2mlambda^2))_p#

When both have same wavelength above reduces to

#(KE_e)/(KE_p)=m_p/m_e#

Jul 31, 2018

I misread #sf"photon"# as proton. Correct answer is as below.

Explanation:

We know that de-Broglie wavelength #lambda# of a particle of mass #m# and momentum #p# is given by the expression

#lambda=h/p#
where #h# is Planck's Constant.

Kinetic is given as

#KE=p^2/(2m)#

In terms of de-Broglie wavelength #lambda#

#KE=(h/lambda)^2/(2m)#
#=>KE=h^2/(2mlambda^2)#

We know that photon is a mass less particle. Its Kinetic Energy is same as its Energy which is given by the expression

#E=(hc)/lambda#
where #c# is velocity of light

Ratio of kinetic energies of electron and photon

#(KE_e)/(KE_p)=(h^2/(2m_elambda_e^2))/((hc)/lambda_p)#

When both have same wavelength #lambda# above reduces to

#(KE_e)/(KE_p)=h/(2m_elambdac)#