A beam of electrons, a beam of protons, and a beam of oxygen atoms each pass at the same speed through a 1 wide slit. Which will produce the widest central maximum on a detector behind the slit?
A. The beam of electrons.
B. The beam of protons.
C. The beam of oxygen atoms.
D. All three patterns will be the same.
E. None of the beams will produce a diffraction pattern.

The widest central maximum on a detector after passing through a slit will be produced by a beam of electrons, due to their smaller mass and correspondingly longer de Broglie wavelength compared to protons and oxygen atoms. So, the correct answer is A.

Explanation:

The question regarding beams of electrons, protons, and oxygen atoms passing through a slit and producing diffraction patterns is one that falls squarely in the realm of physics, specifically quantum physics and wave-particle duality. This question can be answered using the principles of diffraction and the concept that particles like electrons and protons also exhibit wave-like properties. According to the key principles of quantum mechanics, the central maximum width in a diffraction pattern is inversely proportional to the mass of the particles when all other factors, such as speed and slit width, are constant.

Oxygen atoms, being much heavier than electrons and protons, will have a much shorter de Broglie wavelength at a given velocity. Therefore, oxygen atoms, with their shorter wavelength, will produce a narrower diffraction pattern compared to electrons and protons. Since electrons and protons are much lighter than oxygen atoms, they have longer wavelengths and hence will exhibit broader diffraction patterns. However, because electrons and protons have different masses, their de Broglie wavelengths will not be identical, leading to different diffraction patterns.