What Will Be Observed on the Screen After an Electron Passes Through a Slit?

Click For Summary
When a single electron with a de Broglie wavelength passes through a slit of width equal to 2λ, the expected observation on the fluorescent screen is a single flash that is most likely to occur where the corresponding diffraction pattern has the highest intensity. The options for what can be observed include a diffraction pattern, a single flash in a straight line, a random flash anywhere on the screen, or a flash aligned with the diffraction pattern's peak intensity. The first two options are incorrect, as the electron interacts with the slit and does not behave as if it moved in a straight line. The random flash option is also deemed incorrect due to the constraints of the electron's path. Thus, the correct observation aligns with the diffraction pattern's intensity distribution.
neelakash
Messages
491
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement



A single electron with de Broglie wavelength λ passes through a slit of width d=2λ.The electron can strike a fluorescent screen.What will be observed on the screen?

(a)a diffraction pattern
(b)a single flash as if the electron had moved in a straight line through the slit.
(c)a single flash that could occur anywhere on the screen.
(d)a single flash that would most likely occur where a corresponding diffraction pattern would have the highest intensity.

Homework Equations



a sinθ=λ

The Attempt at a Solution



(a)clearly wrong
(b)wrong as electron must have interacted with the slit
(c)It seems incorrect as it means that the flash can occur even at a remote end of the screen also where the electron may not possily reach...
(d)looks correct to me...

Please let me know if I am correct
 
Physics news on Phys.org
neelakash said:
Please let me know if I am correct

Yes, you are correct.

Eugene.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Single vs. Double slit coherence clarification please
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
614
High School The wave function of the electron doesn't collapse when passing through air?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad Is There A Study Showing The Observer Effect Ignoring Conscious Intent?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Undergrad Is the uncertainty principle applicable to single slit diffraction?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Young's slit experiment with single photons
  • · Replies 81 ·
3
Replies
81
Views
7K
Measuring the Electron's Momentum Through a Slot
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Undergrad Single-slit diffraction experiment and the conservation of energy
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
High School Double slit experiment with electrons
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Diffraction with a large array of slits
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Doublie slit w/ electron problem
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K