Similar to electron diffraction, neutron diffraction microscope is also used for the determination of the structure of molecules. If the wavelength used here is 800 pm, calculate the characteristic velocity associated with the neutron.

We can use the de Broglie wavelength equation to relate the wavelength (λ) of a neutron to its velocity (v) and mass (m):

λ = h / mv

where h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10⁻³⁴ Js), m is the mass of the neutron (1.675 x 10⁻²⁷ kg), and λ is the wavelength (800 pm = 800 x 10⁻¹² m).

We can rearrange the equation to solve for velocity:

v = h / (mλ)

Plugging in the values:

v = (6.626 x 10⁻³⁴ Js) / (1.675 x 10⁻²⁷ kg x 800 x 10⁻¹² m)

v ≈ 4.94 x 10² m/s