All Questions
11
questions
3
votes
2
answers
120
views
Balmer proportionality
How did Johannes Balmer arrive at
$$
\lambda \propto \frac{n^2}{n^2-4}, \quad (n=3,4,\dots),
$$
and then how did Rydberg mathematically derive
$$
\frac{1}{\lambda}=R\left(\frac{1}{n^2_1}-\frac{1}{n^...
0
votes
3
answers
547
views
Does Wave-Particle Duality Mean "Particles" are Just Waves With Short Wavelengths?
I have the following question about wave-particle duality:
Are particles really just waves with short wavelengths?
If this is correct, would it then be accurate to say:
"everything in the ...
- 434
31
votes
12
answers
7k
views
Why is everything not invisible if 99% space is empty?
If every object is $99$% empty space, how is reflection possible? Why doesn't light just pass through?
Also light passes as a straight line, doesn't it? The wave nature doesn't say anything about its ...
- 435
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does a single photon have a wavelength or not? [duplicate]
I have read this question where anna v says:
The photon is an elementary particle in the standard model of particle physics. It does not have a wavelength.
What exactly is meant by the wavelength of ...
- 29k
0
votes
0
answers
147
views
Does quantum mechanics mean that there are a finite number of colours? [duplicate]
Forgive me if my reasoning is based on flawed logic and information. I am no physics expert.
As I understand it when light strikes an object the energy of the photons is absorbed by the atoms that ...
- 49
3
votes
1
answer
399
views
Can de Broglie Waves have frequency, just because we know de Broglie wavelength formula? [duplicate]
Sub-question if Yes: de Broglie wave is also often called the matter-wave. While we can find the frequency of an Electromagnetic Radiation from its wavelength $(c=\nu\lambda)$. $c$, in this case, is ...
- 753
0
votes
1
answer
75
views
If we had a good enough eyesight would we be able to see atoms and the fuzziness of the quantum world?
If our eyes had enough precision and calibration to see hundreds of thousands smaller scales than we do, surely our brains would also need a major tuneup to process it. But could our classical body ...
- 285
1
vote
1
answer
104
views
Why does heating an atom make it emit certain wavelengths?
We're going over quantum basics in chemistry right now and I'm very confused.
Electrons can only accept in discreet quanta to move up an energy level, right? And they reflect other forms of light ...
-1
votes
1
answer
151
views
Does the continous EM spectrum contradict discrete energy? [duplicate]
After some research, it seems apparent to me that the EM spectrum is continuous, but this would contradict a physics fundamental that energy is discrete. Is there a conflict here?
- 4,711
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Physical meaning of wavelength of an EM wave
What is the physical meaning of the wavelength of light? This question has been asked before but I cannot find a satisfactory answer. Some respondents have said that the question is vague, I don't ...
7
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is the de Broglie wavelength of a photon equal to the EM wavelength of the radiation?
Is the de Broglie (matter) wavelength $\lambda=\frac{h}{p}$ of a photon equal to the electromagnetic wavelength of the radiation?
I guess yes, but how come that photons have both a matter wave and an ...
- 71