1.

Computethe typical de Broglie wavelength of an electron in a metal at 27 ºCand compare it with the mean separation between two electrons in ametal which is given to be about 2 × 10−10m.[Note:Exercises 11.35 and 11.36 reveal thatwhile the wave-packets associated with gaseous molecules underordinary conditions are non-overlapping, the electron wave-packets ina metal strongly overlap with one another. This suggests that whereasmolecules in an ordinary gas can be distinguished apart, electrons ina metal cannot be distinguished apart from one another. Thisindistinguishibility has many fundamental implications which you willexplore in more advanced Physics courses.]

Answer»

Compute
the typical de Broglie wavelength of an electron in a metal at 27 ºC
and compare it with the mean separation between two electrons in a
metal which is given to be about 2 × 10
−10
m.


[Note:
Exercises 11.35 and 11.36 reveal that
while the wave-packets associated with gaseous molecules under
ordinary conditions are non-overlapping, the electron wave-packets in
a metal strongly overlap with one another. This suggests that whereas
molecules in an ordinary gas can be distinguished apart, electrons in
a metal cannot be distinguished apart from one another. This
indistinguishibility has many fundamental implications which you will
explore in more advanced Physics courses.]



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