Question 11.16: An electron and a photon each have a wavelength of 1.00 nm. Find
(a) their momenta,
(b) the energy of the photon, and
(c)the kinetic energy of the electron.
 

(a)
Hint:
\(\lambda=\frac{h}{p}\)

Step 1: Find the wavelength of an electron and photon.
The momentum of an elementary particle is given by de Broglie relation:λ=hp⇒p=hλ
It is clear that momentum depends only on the wavelength of the particle. Since the wavelengths of an electron and a photon are
equal, both have an equal momentum.
∴p=6.63×10−341×10−9=6.63×10−23kgms−1

(b)
Hint: \(E=\frac{hc}{\lambda}\)

Step 1: Find the energy of the photon.
The energy of a photon is given by the relation:
E=hcλ
Where, Speed of light, c = 3 x 103 m/s

∴E=6.63×10−34×3×1081×10−9×1.6×10−19=1243.1eV=1.243keV

Therefore, the energy photon is 1.243 keV.

(c)
Hint: \(K=\frac{p^{2}}{2m}\)

Step 1: Find the kinetic energy of the electron.
The kinetic energy (K) of an electron having momentum p, is given by the relation:

K=12p2m

Where
m = Mass of the electron= 9.1 x 10-31 kg
p = \(6.63\times10^{-25}\) kg m s-1

∴K=12×(6.63×10−25)29.1×10−31=2.415×10−10J=2.415×10−101.6×10−19=1.51eV

Hence, the kinetic energy of the electron is 1.51 eV.