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Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter appeared 31 times across 3 years — 3.6% of Physics. This question is from de Broglie Wavelength.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 7 16 8 31

A proton of mass mₚ has same energy as that of a photon of wavelength λ . If the proton is moving at non-relativistic speed, then ratio of its de Broglie wavelength to the wavelength of photon is.

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

Let E represent the identical energy value shared by both particles:

Ephoton = hcλ = E Eₚᵣₒₜₒₙ = p²2mₚ = E p = 2mₚE

Now, expressing the ratio of the proton's de Broglie wavelength to the photon's wavelength:

λₚᵣₒₜₒₙλphoton = h/phc/E = h/ 2mₚEhc/E λₚᵣₒₜₒₙλphoton = Ec 2mₚE = 1c E2mₚ
Step 1: Final Conclusion

The calculated ratio maps to option (3).

Pattern Recognition

Combine the core formulas: λmatter = h 2mE and λlight = hcmathrmE. Dividing them smoothly yields the standard non-relativistic scaling ratio.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Reference Study Guides

More Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q47 jee_main_2026_28_january_morning de Broglie Wavelength
The ratio of de Broglie wavelength of a deutron with kinetic energy E to that of an alpha particle with kinetic energy 2E, is n : 1. The value of n is ____. (Assume mass of proton = mass of neutron)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 2 to 2

Solution

Related Formula
λ = (h)/(p) = h√(2m · KE)
Core Logic

Set up the ratio of wavelengths for the deuteron and the alpha particle based on their given kinetic energies and masses. Let mass of proton/neutron be m. Deuteron mass is 2m, Alpha particle mass is 4m.

Step 1: Ratio setup
(λd)/(λ_α) = √((m_α · KE_α)/(md · KEd))
Step 2: Value Substitution

Substitute m_α = 4m, md = 2m, KE_α = 2E, and KEd = E:

= √((4m · 2E)/(2m · E)) = √((8mE)/(2mE)) = √(4) = 2

So, the ratio is 2 : 1. Therefore, n = 2.

Pattern Recognition

Memorize mass ratios for common particles: proton (m), deuteron (2m), alpha (4m). Substitute directly into inverse-sqrt formula for λ.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Q36 jee_main_2026_28_january_evening Photon Energy
Number of photons of equal energy emitted per second by a 6 mW laser source operating at 663 nm is ____. (Given: h = 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ J.s and c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s)
  • A. 5 × 10¹⁶
  • B. 5 × 10¹⁵
  • C. 10 × 10¹⁵
  • D. 2 × 10¹⁶

Solution

Related Formula
P = n (hc)/(λ)

where: P = Power of the laser n = number of photons emitted per second h = Planck's constant c = speed of light λ = wavelength

Step 1: Extract Given Variables

P = 6 mW = 6 × 10⁻³ J/s λ = 663 nm = 663 × 10⁻⁹ m h = 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ J.s c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s

Step 2: Substitution and Calculation
6 × 10⁻³ = n × 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ × 3 × 10⁸663 × 10⁻⁹

Notice that 6.63 / 663 = 10⁻².

6 × 10⁻³ = n × 3 × 10⁻²⁶ × 10⁻²10⁻⁹ 6 × 10⁻³ = n × 3 × 10⁻¹⁹ n = 6 × 10⁻³3 × 10⁻¹⁹ = 2 × 10¹⁶
Pattern Recognition

Always look for complementary numerical values like 663 and 6.63. It guarantees a clean power of 10 extraction.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Q5 jee_main_2025_02_april_evening de-Broglie Wavelength
An electron with mass m with an initial velocity (t = 0) v = v₀ i (v₀ > 0) enters a magnetic field B = B₀ j . If the initial de-Broglie wavelength at t = 0 is λ₀ then its value after time t would be:
  • A. λ₀√(1 - (e² B₀² t²)/(m²))
  • B. λ₀√(1 + (e² B₀² t²)/(m²))
  • C. λ₀ √(1 + (e² B₀² t²)/(m²))
  • D. λ₀

Solution

Related Formula
  • Magnetic Force on a moving charge:
F = q( v × B)
  • de-Broglie Wavelength:
λ = (h)/(p) = (h)/(m v)

where p is the magnitude of momentum and v is the speed.

Core Logic

Since the magnetic force F is always perpendicular to the velocity v of the electron at any instant:

W = ∫ F · d r = 0

By the work-energy theorem, since work done by the magnetic field is zero, the kinetic energy (and thus the speed v) of the electron remains constant throughout its motion.

Since speed v = v₀ (constant), the magnitude of momentum p = m v remains constant over time.

Therefore, the de-Broglie wavelength remains unchanged:

λ(t) = λ₀
Pattern Recognition

Sees: Charge entering purely magnetic field. Trap: Resolving helical trajectories or cross products mathematically. Do not waste time computing components! Shortcut: A magnetic field can ONLY change the direction of velocity, NEVER the magnitude (speed). Since de-Broglie wavelength depends solely on the magnitude of momentum (p = mv), it must remain constant.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Q20 jee_main_2025_02_april_morning Photoelectric Effect
A monochromatic light is incident on a metallic plate having work function φ. An electron, emitted normally to the plate from a point A with maximum kinetic energy, enters a constant magnetic field, perpendicular to the initial velocity of electron. The electron passes through a curve and hits back the plate at a point B. The distance between A and B is: (Given: The magnitude of charge of an electron is e and mass is m, h is Planck's constant and c is velocity of light. Take the magnetic field exists throughout the path of electron)
  • A. √(2m((hc)/(λ) - φ)) / eB
  • B. √(m((hc)/(λ) - φ)) / eB
  • C. √(8m((hc)/(λ) - φ)) / eB
  • D. 2 √(m((hc)/(λ) - φ)) / eB

Solution

Related Formula
K = (hc)/(λ) - φ p = 2m K R = (p)/(eB)

d = 2R

Core Logic

According to Einstein's photoelectric equation, the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectron is:

K = (hc)/(λ) - φ

The momentum p corresponding to this kinetic energy is:

p = 2m K = √(2m ((hc)/(λ) - φ))

The electron is emitted normally to the plate and enters a perpendicular constant magnetic field B. It describes a circular arc (semicircle) and hits back the plate at point B. The distance between A and B is the diameter of this circular trajectory:

dAB = 2R = 2 ( (p)/(eB) ) = 2√(2m((hc)/(λ) - φ))eB

To align this with the options, move the factor of 2 inside the square root (2 = √(4)):

dAB = √(4 × 2m((hc)/(λ) - φ))eB = √(8m((hc)/(λ) - φ))eB
Step 1: Final Conclusion

The distance between points A and B is

Step 1: Final Conclusion

The distance between points A and B is $\sqrt{8m\left(\frac{hc}{\lambda} - \phi\right)} / eB.

Pattern Recognition

When a particle is launched perpendicularly from a flat boundary into a perpendicular magnetic field, it describes a semicircle and exits/re-hits the boundary at a distance equal to the diameter

Pattern Recognition

When a particle is launched perpendicularly from a flat boundary into a perpendicular magnetic field, it describes a semicircle and exits/re-hits the boundary at a distance equal to the diameter $2R = 2\frac{p}{qB}. Taking coefficients inside square roots converts2 \sqrt{2x}to\sqrt{8x}$.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation Class 12 Physics: Moving Charges and Magnetism

Q21 jee_main_2025_08_april_evening de-Broglie Wavelength
An electron is released from rest near an infinite non-conducting sheet of uniform charge density -σ. The rate of change of de-Broglie wavelength associated with the electron varies inversely as nth power of time. The numerical value of n is
Numerical Answer. Answer: 2 to 2

Solution

Related Formula
λ = (h)/(p) p = m v = m (at) a = (e E)/(m) = e σ2mε₀

where, λ = de-Broglie wavelength p = linear momentum a = acceleration of the electron in the uniform electric field E t = time elapsed since release

Core Logic

Since the electron starts from rest (u = 0), its velocity v at any time t is:

v = at

Thus, the momentum is p = m v = m a t.

Substitute this into the de-Broglie wavelength equation:

λ(t) = (h)/(m a t)

Now, compute the rate of change of wavelength with respect to time:

(dλ)/(dt) = (d)/(dt) ( (h)/(ma) t⁻¹ ) = -(h)/(ma) t⁻²

This shows that:

| (dλ)/(dt) | ∝ (1)/(t²)

Comparing this with the given statement (varies inversely as nth power of time):

n = 2

Pattern Recognition

Sees: "Uniform electric field" + "de-Broglie wavelength rate of change" → Wavelength λ ∝ t⁻¹. Shortcut: Since λ ∝ (1)/(t), its derivative must scale as (dλ)/(dt) ∝ (1)/(t²). Thus, n = 2 directly from basic power-rule differentiation! ✓

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation Class 12 Physics: Electrostatics

More Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter Questions — jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning

Practice all Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter previous-year questions →

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