Website Detail Page

published by the PhET
This webpage contains an interactive simulation that replicates the Davisson-Germer experiment of electron diffraction off of materials, a historically important verification of the wave-nature of quantum systems. This virtual experiment shows the maxima and minima pattern in the electron scattering as a function of angle. Users can control the size and separation of atomic scatterers, as well as the intensity and speed of the electron beam. Tools are provided to measure the resulting diffraction pattern, angles, and separations of maxima and minima. A plot shows the intensities as a function of angle and includes the ability to save and compare scattering plots.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Quantum Physics
- Probability, Waves, and Interference
- Scattering and Unbound Systems
- Upper Undergraduate
- Lower Undergraduate
- High School
- Graduate/Professional
- Instructional Material
= Activity
= Interactive Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- application/java
  • Currently 0.0/5

Want to rate this material?
Login here!


Access Rights: Free access
Restriction: © 2005 PHET and University of Colorado
Additional information is available.
Keywords: Davisson, Germer, atomic scattering, electron diffraction, interference
Record Cloner: Metadata instance created October 2, 2006 by Gifford Weber
Record Updated: Feb 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
August 11, 2006
Other Collections:
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
(PhET, Boulder, 2005), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer).
AJP/PRST-PER
PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction (PhET, Boulder, 2005), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer>.
APA Format
PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction. (2006, August 11). Retrieved March 25, 2025, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer
Chicago Format
PhET. PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction. Boulder: PhET, August 11, 2006. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer (accessed 25 March 2025).
MLA Format
PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction. Boulder: PhET, 2005. 11 Aug. 2006. 25 Mar. 2025 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Title = {PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction}, Publisher = {PhET}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {25 March 2025}, Month = {August 11, 2006}, Year = {2005} }
Refer Export Format

%T PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction %D August 11, 2006 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D August 11, 2006 %T PhET Simulation: Davisson-Germer: Electron Diffraction %I PhET %V 2025 %N 25 March 2025 %8 August 11, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/davisson-germer


Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.

Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

Have experience with this material? Login to leave a comment sharing your experience.

Know of a related resource? Login to relate this resource to other material across the web.

Know of a better resource? Suggest it!

See a problem with this material's physics or description? Contact us!