Related Formula
For a photon, the energy (which is its kinetic energy) is:
Eₚ = (h c)/(λₚ) λₚ = (h c)/(Eₚ)$$E_p = \frac{h c}{\lambda_p} \implies \lambda_p = \frac{h c}{E_p}$$
For an electron, the de-Broglie wavelength related to its kinetic energy (Kₑ$K_e$) is:
λₑ = (h)/(mₑ vₑ) = (h vₑ)/(2 Kₑ)$$\lambda_e = \frac{h}{m_e v_e} = \frac{h v_e}{2 K_e}$$
since Kₑ = (1)/(2) mₑ vₑ² mₑ vₑ = (2 Kₑ)/(vₑ)$K_e = \frac{1}{2} m_e v_e^2 \implies m_e v_e = \frac{2 K_e}{v_e}$.
Core Logic
Given that the velocity of the electron is 25%$25\%$ of the speed of light:
vₑ = 0.25c = (c)/(4)$$v_e = 0.25c = \frac{c}{4}$$
Substituting this into the electron's wavelength equation:
λₑ = (h ((c)/(4)))/(2 Kₑ) = (h c)/(8 Kₑ)$$\lambda_e = \frac{h \left(\frac{c}{4}\right)}{2 K_e} = \frac{h c}{8 K_e}$$
Step 1: Equate Wavelengths
We are given that the de-Broglie wavelengths are equal (λₚ = λₑ$\lambda_p = \lambda_e$):
(h c)/(Eₚ) = (h c)/(8 Kₑ)$$\frac{h c}{E_p} = \frac{h c}{8 K_e}$$
Cancelling h c$h c$ from both sides:
(1)/(Eₚ) = (1)/(8 Kₑ) 8 Kₑ = Eₚ$$\frac{1}{E_p} = \frac{1}{8 K_e} \implies 8 K_e = E_p$$
Step 2: Find the Energy Ratio
The ratio of the kinetic energy of the electron to that of the photon (Eₚ$E_p$) is:
(Kₑ)/(Eₚ) = (1)/(8)$$\frac{K_e}{E_p} = \frac{1}{8}$$
Therefore, the ratio is 1/8$1/8$.
Pattern Recognition
A direct comparison between massive particle kinetic energy (K = (p²)/(2m) = (p v)/(2)$K = \frac{p^2}{2m} = \frac{p v}{2}$) and photon energy (E = p c$E = p c$) when they share the same momentum p$p$ (same wavelength) yields a simple universally applicable rule: KparticleEphoton = (v)/(2c)$\frac{K_{\text{particle}}}{E_{\text{photon}}} = \frac{v}{2c}$.
Chapter Mix
Class 12 Physics: Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter