- #1
Dweirdo
- 174
- 0
Hello,
I've always wondered about the "relativity" of the De Broglie wavelength.
The wavelength depends on the momentum of the specific thing we are observing, thus on different frames of reference(F.O.R from now on :P) we might get different answers.
I have been looking through the web to find an answer for "how can it be , it's so weird",and found some not-actually-answered answers ,so I won't even ask cause it involves our understanding of "particles"/"waves" and their nature,nor about the "infinite wavelength" issue.
but I do want to ask about a some sort of a paradox:
as postulated by De Broglie :
The only way to ‘fit a wave’ around a nucleus is when the wavelength fits the circumference a whole-number of times,aka a standing wave.
However, the wavelength depends on the F.O.R so ,in a F.O.R moving 100 m/s relative to an atom the wavelength of the electron is different ,thus it's orbit should be different, and we've come up to a great way to find absolute velocity(?) ,I hope you guys see the paradox here,or the not-so-obvious interpretation of the De Broglie wavelength,seems like we have to add a "relative to..." when we talk about wavelength as we do with velocity ,momentum and kinetic energy.
like
"The only way to ‘fit a wave’ around a nucleus is when the wavelength relative to the nucleus fits the circumference a whole-number of times,aka a standing wave." but it's really weird to say...
so if anyone can help me "Solve" the paradox if there is any paradox,or it's just me not getting it... any ideas are welcome.
Thanks
Dw
I've always wondered about the "relativity" of the De Broglie wavelength.
The wavelength depends on the momentum of the specific thing we are observing, thus on different frames of reference(F.O.R from now on :P) we might get different answers.
I have been looking through the web to find an answer for "how can it be , it's so weird",and found some not-actually-answered answers ,so I won't even ask cause it involves our understanding of "particles"/"waves" and their nature,nor about the "infinite wavelength" issue.
but I do want to ask about a some sort of a paradox:
as postulated by De Broglie :
The only way to ‘fit a wave’ around a nucleus is when the wavelength fits the circumference a whole-number of times,aka a standing wave.
However, the wavelength depends on the F.O.R so ,in a F.O.R moving 100 m/s relative to an atom the wavelength of the electron is different ,thus it's orbit should be different, and we've come up to a great way to find absolute velocity(?) ,I hope you guys see the paradox here,or the not-so-obvious interpretation of the De Broglie wavelength,seems like we have to add a "relative to..." when we talk about wavelength as we do with velocity ,momentum and kinetic energy.
like
"The only way to ‘fit a wave’ around a nucleus is when the wavelength relative to the nucleus fits the circumference a whole-number of times,aka a standing wave." but it's really weird to say...
so if anyone can help me "Solve" the paradox if there is any paradox,or it's just me not getting it... any ideas are welcome.
Thanks
Dw