Imagine an alternate universe where the value of the Planck constant is . In that universe, which of the following objects would require quantum mechanics to describe, that is, would show both particle and wave properties? Which objects would act like everyday objects, and be adequately described by classical mechanics? object quantum or classical? A virus with a mass of 9.4 x 10-17 g, 280. nm wide, moving at 0.50 µm/s. classical quantum A buckyball with a mass of 1.2 x 10-21 g, 0.7 nm wide, moving at 37. m/s. classical quantum A mosquito with a mass of 1.0 mg, 6.3 mm long, moving at 1.1 m/s. classical quantum A turtle with a mass of 710. g, 22. cm long, moving at 2.8 cm/s. classical quantum

Question: The planck constant was not given. In this calculation, planck constant of 6.62607*10^-9 Js  is used for the calculation.

(a) A virus Classical

(b) A buckyball Classical

(c) A mosquito Quantum

(d) A turtle  Quantum

Explanation:

 Calculating the wavelength using the formula;

λ= h/(mv)

where

λ= Wavelength

h = Planck Constant = 6.62607*10^-9 Js

m = mass in kg

v = velocity in m/s

Virus size = 280. nm = 2.80*10⁻⁷ m

a)

A Virus:

m = 9.4 x 10-17 g 9.4*10⁻²⁰ kg

v = 0.50 µm/s = 5 *10⁻⁷ m/s

h = 6.62607*10^-9 Js

Virus size = 280 nm = 2.80*10⁻⁷ m

Substituting into the formula; we have

λ= h/(mv)

λ= 6.62607*10^-9/ (9.4*10⁻²⁰* 5 *10⁻⁷)

  = 6.62607*10^-9/4.7*10^-26

  = 1.4*10^17 m

Classical : Wavelength is bigger than it's size

(b)

A buckyball

m = 1.2 x 10-21 g = 1.2 *10⁻²⁴ kg

V = 37 m/s

Size = 0.7 nm = 7*10⁻¹⁰ m

Substituting into the formula, we have

λ= h/(mv)

λ= 6.62607*10^-9/ ( 1.2 *10⁻²⁴* 37)

  =  6.62607*10^-9/4.44*10^-23

  = 1.49 *10^14 m

Classical : Wavelength is bigger than it's size

(c)

A mosquito

Mass = 1.0 mg = 1*10⁻⁶ kg

v = 1.1 m/s

Size =  6.3 mm = 6.3*10⁻³ m

Substituting into the formula, we have

λ= h/(mv)

λ= 6.62607*10^-9/ (  1*10⁻⁶* 1.1)

  =  6.62607*10^-9/1.1*10^-6

  = 6.02*10^-3 m

Quantum Approach: The wavelength and the size are comparable

(d)

A turtle

Mass = 710. g = 0.71 kg

Size =  22. cm = 0.22 m

V =  2.8 cm/s. = 0.028 m/s

Substituting into the formula, we have

λ= h/(mv)

λ= 6.62607*10^-9/ (  0.71* 0.028)

  = 6.62607*10^-9/0.01988

   = 3.33*10^-7 m

Quantum Approach: The wavelength and the size are comparable