Chapter 9, Problem 107E

The wave nature of matter was first proposed by Louis de Broglie, who suggested the wavelength (l) of a particle was related to its mass (m) and its velocity (n) by the equation: $\lambda =h/mv$

where h is Planck’s constant $\left(6.626\times {10}^{-34}\text{J}\cdot \text{s}\right)$. Calculate the de Broglie wavelength of: (a) a 0.0459 kg golf ball traveling at 95 m/s; (b) an electron traveling $3.88\times {10}^6\text{m}/\text{s}.$

Can you explain why the wave nature of matter is significant is significant for the electron but not for the golf ball? (Hint: Express mass in kilograms.)