Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 38 - Quantization - Exercises and Problems - Page 1154: 49

Answer

${\bf 2.0\times 10^8}\;\rm m/s$

Work Step by Step

We have here a double-slit experiment. We know that the spacing between fringes in a double-slit interference experiment is given by $$\Delta y=\dfrac{\lambda L}{d}\tag 1$$ where $L$ is the distance between the double-slit and the screen, $d$ is the slit separation, and $\lambda$ is the wavelength of the neutrons which we can find by using de Broglie wavelength's formula. $$\lambda=\dfrac{h}{p}=\dfrac{h}{mv}$$ Solving for $v$ since the author asks for neutrons speed; $$v=\dfrac{h}{m\lambda}\tag 2$$ Solving (1) for $\lambda$; $$\lambda=\dfrac{\Delta y \;d}{ L}$$ Plug it into (2); $$v=\dfrac{hL}{m \Delta y \;d} $$ Plug the known; $$v=\dfrac{(6.63\times 10^{-34})(3.5)}{ \Delta y(0.1\times 10^{-9})(1.67\times 10^{-27})} \tag 3$$ As we see, the only unknown here is $\Delta y$ which we can find by using the 7 peaks on the given graph and the 100-$\mu$m scale. It seems that the distance between the first peak and the 7th peak is $6\Delta y$ which is about 4 times the given scale. Noting that this is a rough estimation. Thus, $$6\Delta y=400\;\rm \mu m$$ $$\Delta y=\bf 66.7\;\rm \mu m$$ Plug into (3); $$v=\dfrac{(6.63\times 10^{-34})(3.5)}{ (66.7\times 10^{-6})(0.1\times 10^{-9})(1.67\times 10^{-27})} $$ $$v=\color{red}{\bf 2.0\times 10^8}\;\rm m/s$$
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