Educator

Matter Waves

• De Broglie hypothesis: all material particles have wave characteristics. The wavelength associated with a particle of momentum p is h / p.
• The Uncertainty Principle: Although in classical physics there is no limit, in principle, to how accurately the position and momentum of a particle are measured, the situation is different in quantum physics, which rules the behavior of microscopic particles. Due to the wave nature of particles, the product of the uncertainties in position and momentum of a particle is equal to h /(4*pi); this is Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.