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Readings
Activity 5, Waves of Matter, VQM Activities
In the previous tutorial we arrived at a conclusion - that particles can behave like waves. We can use the following equation to calculate wavelengths for electrons, gnats and even humans.
Most people find this conclusion inherently confusing. What is it about a particle that is waving? In an attempt to clear things up we offer the following explanation (feel free to post your thoughts and or questions on this topic on the message board).
In physics we have two ways to describe physical phenomena we observe: PARTICLES and WAVES. For most things - water waves, sound, bicycles, footballs - it is easy to decide whether it is a particle or a wave. We generally describe objects that have a localized mass and an easily calculated momentum as particles. Waves have a regular periodic motion, transfer energy - not matter and obey the principle of superposition.
Some small objects - electrons, photons, protons - are observed to display properties of both waves and particles. This could be a limitation on our ability to describe objects OR it could be the way nature really is. Einstein thought it was the former and never really accepted the results of quantum mechanics. History and practical applications of wave/particle duality has shown that it is the best model we have for understanding electrons and atoms at the moment.
The electron does not actually move in a wavy path. It behaves like a wave (some of the time) but it is not a wave itself. Assigning an electron wave-like behavior helps us explain what the electron does and how it interacts.
We must consider this wave behavior as we try to understand
why atoms have only certain allowed energies. The next steps are
to learn how to interpret matter waves, to understand what information
they carry, and how we can use that information.
