What is the de Broglie frequency?

The de Broglie frequency is the oscillation frequency associated with a particle treated as a matter wave. It is given by f = E / h, where E is the total or kinetic energy of the particle and h is Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s).

What is the difference between de Broglie frequency and de Broglie wavelength?

The de Broglie wavelength (λ = h/p) depends on the particle's momentum, while the de Broglie frequency (f = E/h) depends on its energy. They are related by the wave speed: v = fλ. For matter waves the phase velocity can exceed c, so frequency and wavelength are distinct physical quantities.

What units does this calculator use?

Energy can be entered in electronvolts (eV), kiloelectronvolts (keV), megaelectronvolts (MeV), or joules (J). The output frequency is always in hertz (Hz), displayed in scientific notation.

Why is the frequency so large for electrons?

Planck's constant h is extremely small (≈ 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s), so even a small energy divided by h yields a very large frequency — often in the range of 10¹⁸ to 10²⁰ Hz for typical electron energies.

Does this use kinetic or total energy?

This calculator uses the kinetic energy you provide directly. In the non-relativistic de Broglie formulation f = E/h applies to the total energy, but for most introductory physics problems the rest mass energy is set aside and kinetic energy is used. For highly relativistic particles, use total relativistic energy E = γmc².

De Broglie Frequency Calculator

Enter a particle's kinetic energy to instantly calculate its de Broglie frequency using f = E/h.

Particle Energy Input

Kinetic Energy

Energy Unit

Constants Used

Planck's constant (h)6.626 × 10^-34 J·s

1 eV1.602 × 10^-19 J

Results

Enter an energy value and click Calculate Frequency.

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Summary

The de Broglie frequency calculator computes the wave frequency associated with a particle based on its kinetic energy using the relation f = E/h, where h is Planck's constant (6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s). This quantum-mechanical property describes the wave-like nature of matter first proposed by Louis de Broglie in 1924. The tool supports energy inputs in electronvolts (eV), kiloelectronvolts (keV), megaelectronvolts (MeV), and joules.

How it works

Enter the particle's kinetic energy in the input field.
Select the appropriate energy unit (eV, keV, MeV, or joules).
The calculator converts the energy to joules if needed.
The de Broglie frequency is computed as f = E / h, where h = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s.
Results are displayed in hertz (Hz) with scientific notation for clarity.
Related quantities such as angular frequency and period are shown as bonus output.

Use cases

Solve quantum mechanics homework problems involving matter waves.
Verify de Broglie frequency calculations for electrons and protons.
Understand wave-particle duality in physics coursework.
Convert particle energies to their associated wave frequencies.
Explore how increasing energy affects the frequency of matter waves.
Support laboratory calculations in nuclear and particle physics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-30 · Reviewed by Nham Vu