Here is the full question:
A beam of electrons is accelerated from rest through a potential difference of 0.400 kV and then passes through a thin slit. When viewed far from the slit, the diffracted beam shows its first diffraction minima at ± 15.1° from the original direction of the beam.
How wide is the slit?
Answer:
0.235 nm
Explanation:
Given that:
The potential difference (V) = 0.400 kV = 400 V
angle of diffraction (θ) = 15.1°
Using the conservation energy to determine the seed of the electron; we have:
![\frac{1}{2}mv^2 = eV](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7B1%7D%7B2%7Dmv%5E2%20%3D%20eV)
Making v the subject of the formula; we have:
![v = \sqrt{\frac{2eV}{m}}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=v%20%3D%20%5Csqrt%7B%5Cfrac%7B2eV%7D%7Bm%7D%7D)
where our constants are
m = ![9*10^{-31} kg](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=9%2A10%5E%7B-31%7D%20kg)
e = ![1.60*10^{-19} C](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=1.60%2A10%5E%7B-19%7D%20C)
given potential difference (V) = 0.400 kV = 400 V
substituting our parameters; we have:
![v = \sqrt{\frac{2(1.60*10^{-19}C(400V)}{9.1*10^{-31}kg}}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=v%20%3D%20%5Csqrt%7B%5Cfrac%7B2%281.60%2A10%5E%7B-19%7DC%28400V%29%7D%7B9.1%2A10%5E%7B-31%7Dkg%7D%7D)
![v= 11.90 *10^6ms^{-1](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=v%3D%2011.90%20%2A10%5E6ms%5E%7B-1)
From De broglie wave equation;
--------------Equation(1)
Davisson and Germer Experiment also shows that;
making
the subject of the formula; we have:
--------------- Equation (2)
Equating equation (1) and (2); we have:
![\frac{asin \theta }{n} =\frac{h}{mv}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7Basin%20%5Ctheta%20%7D%7Bn%7D%20%3D%5Cfrac%7Bh%7D%7Bmv%7D)
![{asin \theta } =n\frac{h}{mv}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%7Basin%20%5Ctheta%20%7D%20%3Dn%5Cfrac%7Bh%7D%7Bmv%7D)
----------- Equation(3)
where;
a = width of the slit
n = order of diffraction
θ = angle of diffraction
Since we were told that when the beam of electrons were viewed from the slit, the diffracted beam shows its first diffraction minima ;
then (n) = first order = 1
where: h = ![6.63 *10^{-34} kgm^2s^{-1}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=6.63%20%2A10%5E%7B-34%7D%20kgm%5E2s%5E%7B-1%7D)
n = 1
m = ![9.1*10^{-31}kg](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=9.1%2A10%5E%7B-31%7Dkg)
![v= 11.90 *10^6ms^{-1](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=v%3D%2011.90%20%2A10%5E6ms%5E%7B-1)
θ = 15. 1°
Substituting our values into equation (3); we have:
![a=\frac{6.63*10^{-34}*(1)}{(9.1*10^{-31})(11.9*10^6)(sin15.1)}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=a%3D%5Cfrac%7B6.63%2A10%5E%7B-34%7D%2A%281%29%7D%7B%289.1%2A10%5E%7B-31%7D%29%2811.9%2A10%5E6%29%28sin15.1%29%7D)
![a=2.35*10^{-10}m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=a%3D2.35%2A10%5E%7B-10%7Dm)
Converting m to nm; we have
![a=(2.350*10^{-10}m)(\frac{1nm}{10^{-9}m} )](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=a%3D%282.350%2A10%5E%7B-10%7Dm%29%28%5Cfrac%7B1nm%7D%7B10%5E%7B-9%7Dm%7D%20%29)
![a = 2.35*10^{-1}nm](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=a%20%3D%202.35%2A10%5E%7B-1%7Dnm)
a = 0.235 nm
∴ the width of the slit = 0.235 nm
I hope that helps alot!