As far as we can tell it's a packet of pure energy,
but the math we have to describe it fits either waves (and there's nothing to wave) or a particle (but with a rest mass of zero). [Try describing the action of a bullet that doesn't exist, so you can't stop it and look at it.]
Sometimes one describes it "better" and sometimes the other.
wave theory of light
the duality paradox
If you think of light as made up of small, elastic particles, then when they hit a hard surface, they will bounce off and travel in another direction. This is analogous to a basketball bouncing off a floor. However, the particle nature of light has been disproven. A more accurate description lies in the wave or particle-wave duality nature of light.
Disturbance in particle motion parallel to the wave velocity is called a longitudinal wave. Disturbance in particle motion perpendicular to the wave velocity is called a transverse wave.
The particle motion in shear waves relative to the energy of the wave is downward.
particle. This duality is known as wave-particle duality, where light exhibits properties of both waves (such as interference and diffraction) and particles (such as energy quantization and momentum). This concept is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics.
Yes, light exhibits properties of both a wave and a particle, known as wave-particle duality.
light is neither a wave or a particle. Light exists as tiny packets of photons which are emitted at random. That is light in its simplest form.Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum and as such is a form of energy.
Light exhibits characteristics of both a wave and a particle, known as wave-particle duality. It can behave as a wave in some situations and as a particle in others, depending on the experiment being conducted.
this is a much more complicated question than perhaps you realise. try looking up "wave particle duality" photons have the strange characteristic of haveing properties of both a wave and a particle.
Light behaves as both a wave and a particle in chemistry. As a wave, light exhibits properties such as interference and diffraction, while as a particle, light consists of discrete packets of energy called photons. This dual nature of light is described by the wave-particle duality principle.
The wave-particle duality of light is the concept that light behaves both as a wave and as a particle. When behaving as a wave, light exhibits phenomena like interference and diffraction. When behaving as a particle, it interacts with matter in discrete packets called photons.
Light exhibits characteristics of both a wave and a particle. Its behavior can be accurately described by wave-like properties such as interference and diffraction, as well as particle-like properties such as energy quantization and momentum. This duality is captured in the wave-particle duality of light, which is a fundamental concept in quantum physics.
Light exhibits properties of both particles and waves, known as wave-particle duality. It can behave as a particle called a photon and as a wave with characteristics like frequency and wavelength.
Light behaves as both a particle and a wave. This is known as the wave-particle duality of light. It exhibits wave-like properties such as interference and diffraction, as well as particle-like properties such as momentum and energy quantization.
Light can exhibit properties of both waves and particles depending on how it is observed. To determine if light behaves like a particle, experiments such as the photoelectric effect or Compton scattering can be conducted, while interference or diffraction patterns indicate wave-like behavior. Quantum mechanics supports the idea of light being both a particle (photon) and a wave (electromagnetic wave).
Light is considered to exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior, depending on the experiment being performed. This is known as the wave-particle duality of light. In some experiments, light behaves more like a wave, while in others, it behaves more like a particle (photon).