A Level Physics Practice Exam

Why is it simpler to observe wave properties in electrons compared to protons?

1. Electrons have a greater charge than protons

2. Electrons possess significantly less mass

3. Electrons are more abundant in nature

4. Electrons travel at higher speeds than protons

The correct answer is: Electrons possess significantly less mass

The observation of wave properties in electrons is indeed simpler primarily due to their significantly lower mass compared to protons. Wave characteristics, such as diffraction and interference, become more pronounced for particles that have a smaller mass because their associated de Broglie wavelength, which is inversely proportional to their momentum, is greater. Electrons, being much lighter than protons, exhibit more noticeable wave-like behavior under conditions where their momentum is not too high. This allows for clearer experimental manifestations of concepts like wave-particle duality in electrons, making it easier to observe their wave properties. While the other options present interesting aspects about electrons and protons, they do not fundamentally address the observation of wave properties. For instance, the charge of an electron does not relate directly to its capacity to exhibit wave behavior. The abundance of electrons in nature does not impact their wave characteristics, nor does simply having higher speeds directly correlate with enhanced wave property observability in this context.