Why can light be modeled both as a wave and a particle?

Answer 1

Really good question.

All electromagnetic waves behave essentially the same. It is humans and the material world that cause different effects to appear.

Light exhibits properties of both waves and particles.

This is called wave-particle duality and is an important concept in quantum mechanics.

In our rational view of earth life in 'rational' way light seems both 'wave' and 'particle'.

This indicates that light does not fit the 'rational' models of 'waves and particles'

So it would be equally fitting 'rational' logic to say: light is neither 'wave' nor 'particle'

That would be slightly misleading. In 'rational' logic 'light' is a mix of wave and particle

Like a flesh eating plant is a mix of the Aristotelian models 'animal' and 'plant'.

The difference is 'anima' or 'mind'.

But 'mind' is a 'rational' a priori (per definitionplants have no mind)

Earth 'life' survives without 'animals' and 'humans', but not without 'plants'.

The problem seems to be in the virtual 'rational' concept 'continuity' and 'mind'.

OK. Thanks for that. And now that everybody's discomfort is resolved, we should

also mention that matter also behaves both as particles and as waves.

Answer 2

Lights behave like a wave because it difusses throughout the surroundings with its maximum ability in expanding its apex source.Lights also has a crest and thrust as it travels from the time the switch been triggered.

Answer 3

Light remains a mystery (to all those but me). According to the set up of the electromagnetic spectrum depending on the wavelength lower frequency behave like waves (like radio waves) and high frequency waves behave like particles. Visiable light occurs in the middle at about 6,000 angstroms (actully now measured in nanomaters and scientific notation which would make the measurment different if u r looking at nanometers) The mystery of wheter light behaves like waves or particles is yet being debated. We must remember that the other parts of the elecromagnetic specrium may be light that our eyes as humans are not capable of seeing. A great example of this is how the UVa and UVb rays cant be seen but can we know they are light and they do exist. Simply they are on the werong wavelegth that our eyes cant see. They actually have a bit higher fregeuncy then then the visable colors. The wave particle duaolity theory lead to the foundation for quantum mechanics. According to electromagnetism, an idea that James Maxwell started creating in 1856 when he published papers on it, his thoughts about light waves. He is well known for his equations called Mawell's Equations. Einstein came up with an answer to wave particle-dualty, the question of wheteher light is a wave or paricle. Since light is composed of photons, therefore it is made of particles. However, we can not see all the different types of electromagnetic waves. It also haves like a particle.

Answer 4

Quite simply, light is not like other everyday objects. In general, this can be said for most phenomena in quantum physics. We are accustomed to things behaving in a certain way, because we usually DON'T see quantum effects on a large scale.

In some experiments, light's wave nature will be more dominant, in others, its particle nature.

Quite simply, light is not like other everyday objects. In general, this can be said for most phenomena in quantum physics. We are accustomed to things behaving in a certain way, because we usually DON'T see quantum effects on a large scale.

In some experiments, light's wave nature will be more dominant, in others, its particle nature.

Quite simply, light is not like other everyday objects. In general, this can be said for most phenomena in quantum physics. We are accustomed to things behaving in a certain way, because we usually DON'T see quantum effects on a large scale.

In some experiments, light's wave nature will be more dominant, in others, its particle nature.

Quite simply, light is not like other everyday objects. In general, this can be said for most phenomena in quantum physics. We are accustomed to things behaving in a certain way, because we usually DON'T see quantum effects on a large scale.

In some experiments, light's wave nature will be more dominant, in others, its particle nature.

Answer 5

This a phenomenon known as Wave-Particle Duality where light is said to exist as wave and particle simultaneously. Scientists have discovered that light will behave as either a wave or particle depending on the situation.

For example, light will behave as a wave during reflection and refraction. Whereas, it will behave as a particle during interactions with other particles, such as with the electrons in a metal causing the Photoelectric effect.

Therefore, light is said to travel as a Wave and is absorbed as a Particle

To help explain this phenomenon; physicists created the Photon, the particle of light which can also be modelled as wave-packets called quanta.

Answer 6

That is hard to describe because the particle and wave properties are interwoven, light has a dual nature.

• Any single photon has a fixed, discrete energy level.
• The intensity of visible light can be increased or decreased only by changing the number of photons present.

Answer 7

This is very difficult to explain, but quantum mechanics states that everything is both a wave and a particle (not just light) and behaves either as one or the other depending on how it is "observed". It can never behave as both at the same time, only one or the other.

This quantum phenomenon was first verified experimentally for light as it was easiest to test, but later it was also experimentally verified for subatomic particles (e.g. electrons, protons, neutrons).

Because this is a very difficult phenomenon to properly understand many people develop completely incorrect views on it. It helps to study quantum mechanics to see how it works, but the probabilistic mathematics of quantum mechanics theory is often overwhelming to many people.

Answer 8

Quite simply, light is not like other everyday objects. In general, this can be said for most phenomena in quantum physics. We are accustomed to things behaving in a certain way, because we usually DON'T see quantum effects on a large scale.

In some experiments, light's wave nature will be more dominant, in others, its particle nature.

Answer 9

everything is both a wave and a particle.

consider a Baseball, we see it as only a particle because its wavelength is much too small to observe.