Lesson 4.5.3

4.5.3 Wave-particle duality Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.5.3, Wave-particle duality: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 3: Electrons, waves and photons, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What property of electrons is demonstrated by electron diffraction?

    • Electric charge
    • Wave-like behaviour
    • Particle-like behaviour
    • Rest mass

  2. The de Broglie equation is:

    • lambda = p/h
    • lambda = hp
    • lambda = h/p
    • lambda = h p^2

  3. An electron travels at 2.0 x 10^6 m/s. What is its de Broglie wavelength? Use m = 9.1 x 10^-31 kg and h = 6.6 x 10^-34 J s.

    • 2.0 x 10^6 m
    • 3.6 x 10^-4 m
    • 3.6 x 10^-10 m
    • 1.2 x 10^-15 m

  4. Electron diffraction occurs through graphite because the electron wavelength is comparable to what feature?

    • Nucleus radius
    • Graphite thickness
    • Atomic spacing
    • Electron diameter

  5. Which particle has the shorter de Broglie wavelength when moving at the same speed?

    • Heavier particle
    • Charged particle
    • Faster particle
    • Lighter particle

  6. If the momentum of a particle is doubled, its de Broglie wavelength:

    • stays the same
    • doubles
    • quadruples
    • halves

  7. Which concept states that particles can display wave properties and radiation can display particle properties?

    • Electron diffraction
    • Wave-particle duality
    • Photoelectric effect
    • Quantum superposition

  8. What acts as a diffraction grating when electrons pass through polycrystalline graphite?

    • Surface layer
    • Free electrons
    • Carbon nuclei
    • Atomic arrangement

  9. An electron is accelerated through 100 V. What is its de Broglie wavelength? Use m = 9.1 x 10^-31 kg, e = 1.6 x 10^-19 C, h = 6.6 x 10^-34 J s.

    • 3.6 x 10^-10 m
    • 1.2 x 10^-10 m
    • 1.2 x 10^-7 m
    • 1.2 x 10^-13 m

  10. Why does visible light not produce diffraction through polycrystalline graphite?

    • Wavelength too small
    • Frequency too high
    • Speed too high
    • Wavelength too large

  11. An electron has de Broglie wavelength 0.20 nm. What is its momentum?

    • 6.6 x 10^-10 kg m/s
    • 3.3 x 10^-24 kg m/s
    • 3.3 x 10^-15 kg m/s
    • 1.3 x 10^-34 kg m/s

  12. A 0.10 kg ball moves at 10 m/s. What is its de Broglie wavelength?

    • 6.6 x 10^-35 m
    • 6.6 x 10^-32 m
    • 6.6 x 10^-34 m
    • 1.0 x 10^-33 m

  13. An electron is accelerated through 150 V. What is its de Broglie wavelength?

    • 1.0 x 10^-10 m
    • 2.2 x 10^-10 m
    • 1.0 x 10^-13 m
    • 1.0 x 10^-8 m

  14. Which particle has the shorter de Broglie wavelength after acceleration through the same potential difference?

    • Positron
    • Electron
    • Proton
    • Neutron

  15. How does de Broglie wavelength change when a particle's kinetic energy is quadrupled?

    • Quartered
    • Halved
    • Doubled
    • Unchanged

  16. Why does observing electron diffraction prove that electrons show wave behaviour?

    • Electrons carry charge
    • Electrons possess mass
    • Diffraction requires waves
    • Electrons accelerate

  17. Which effect best demonstrates the particulate nature of electromagnetic radiation?

    • Single-slit refraction
    • Double-slit interference
    • Electron diffraction
    • Photoelectric effect

  18. Which scale of structure can be resolved using electrons with a wavelength of 0.10 nm?

    • Macroscopic scale
    • Atomic scale
    • Subatomic scale
    • Cellular scale

  19. How does increasing the accelerating potential difference affect an electron's de Broglie wavelength?

    • It stays constant
    • It increases
    • It reaches zero
    • It decreases

  20. In electron diffraction through graphite, what determines the diameter of diffraction rings?

    • Beam intensity only
    • Electron charge only
    • Wavelength and spacing
    • Graphite temperature only

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