Bouncing droplets: a classroom experiment to visualize wave-particle duality on the macroscopic level. (27th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sleutel, Pascal; Dietrich, Erik; Veen, Jan T Van der; Joolingen, Wouter R van
• Is Part Of: European journal of physics. Volume 37:Number 5(2016:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2016-07-27
• Subjects: walkers -- wave–particle duality -- classroom experiment -- diffraction -- droplets; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Europe -- Periodicals; 530
• DOI: 10.1088/0143-0807/37/5/055706
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-0807

Abstract

Abstract: This study brings a recently discovered macroscopic phenomenon with wave-particle characteristics into the classroom. The system consists of a liquid droplet levitating over a vertically shaken liquid pool. The droplets allow visualization of a wave–particle system in a directly observable way. We show how to interpret this macroscopic phenomenon and how to set up and carry out this experiment. A class of students performed single slit diffraction experiments with droplets. By scoring individual droplet trajectories students find a diffraction pattern. This pilot application in the classroom shows that students can study and discuss the wave–particle nature of the bouncing droplet experiment. The experiment therefore provides a useful opportunity to show wave–particle behavior on the macroscopic level.