Re: why is the effective mass of holes greater than that of electrons

>effective mass 

"effective" mass is not the particle mass, it is a convenient fiction
whcih accounts for the presence of the lattice or other surrounding media. 

The "effective" mass of an electron in a silicon lattice is 
the mass the electron would have to have to behave the same
way in the absence of the lattice.  THis allows one to use
fairly simple free-particle in vacuum types of calculations
on particles embedded in media, and account for the presence 
of the media.

If that is not at least slightly clearer than mud, ask again.


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