An electron microscope uses electrons accelerated by a voltage of 50 kV. Determine the de Broglie wavelength associated with the electrons. If other factors (such as numerical aperture, etc.) are taken to be roughly the same, how does the resolving power of an electron microscope compare with that of an optical microscope which uses yellow light?

Explanation

`lambda=5.5xx10^(-12)m`
`lambda" (yellow light)"=5.9xx10^(-7)m`
Resolving Power (RP) is inversely proportional to wavelength. Thus, RP of an electron microscope is about `10^(5)` times that of an optical microscope. In practice, differences in other (geometrical) factors can change this comparison somewhat.