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Chemistry / Unit 5   Chem 0810 short lesson, about 20 seconds

De Broglie: Wave-Particle Duality of Matter

Captions available

The idea

In 1925, Louis de Broglie proposed every moving particle, not only light, has an associated wavelength, extending wave-particle duality to matter.

In practice

An electron beam diffracts through a crystal lattice the way light diffracts through slits, evidence confirming de Broglie's matter-wave proposal.

Where people slip

De Broglie's matter wavelength matters only for very light, fast particles like electrons — a thrown ball's wavelength is negligible.

Your place on the trail

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