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Light can act like a particle when it bounces of a mirror and back at you so that you can see the image but can also act like a wave when it goes thought a small gap and spreds out aas it goes thought

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Does light oscillate back and forth between wave and particle like behavior?

Light exhibits characteristics of both waves and particles, known as wave-particle duality. In certain experiments, light behaves more like a wave with characteristics such as interference and diffraction. In other experiments, it behaves more like a particle with characteristics such as quantized energy levels.


Does light behave as a wave or a particle in chemistry?

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.


How can a photon have frequency?

A photon behaves both as a wave and a particle. The frequency of a photon is related to its energy by the equation E = hf, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, and f is frequency. So, the frequency of a photon is a characteristic of its wave-like nature.


Was feynman wrong in saying light is a particle?

Most likely not. Light is made up of photons, and even photons have mass..Thus light is a particle as particles are mass. But to confuse you, even though light = photons & photons = particle & particle = mass; the photons also act as a wave. Which is rather incredible, because it means that a mass also acts as a wave.


What is the duality theory of light?

It's typically called the "Wave-particle duality". And it's easily demonstrated, so it's not "just a theory". If you set up an experiment that will produce results from a wave but not from a stream of particles, a beam of light produces results. So light behaves like a wave. If you set up an experiment that will produce results from a stream of particles but not from a wave, a beam of light produces results. So light behaves like a stream of particles. Whichever one you look for ... waves or particles ... light behaves that way. So, next time someone asks you "Is light a wave or a stream of particles ?", you can answer him confidently, knowing that your answer is the correct one. The correct answer is "Yes ".

Related Questions

When light behaves like a particle what is the particle called?

When light behaves like a particle, it is called a photon. Photons are the fundamental particles of light and carry energy and momentum.


What is a small discrete unit of energy?

A photon is a small discrete unit of energy that is associated with light. It behaves both like a particle and a wave, carrying a specific amount of energy depending on its frequency.


How does light behave as it travels in a straight line?

Light behaves simultaneously as a wave and as a particle.


In what way does light behave like a particle?

Light behaves like a particle in that it can be emitted and absorbed in discrete packets of energy called photons.


Light has what properties?

Light has both wave and particle properties. In some cases, the wave property is observable (Young's double slit experiment) and in other cases, the particle property is observable (photoelectric effect).


Does light behave only like a wave?

No it also behaves like a particle


What light behaves like?

Light behaves like a wave as well as a particle. It exhibits properties of both waves, such as interference and diffraction, and particles, such as momentum and energy quantization. This dual nature of light is described by the wave-particle duality theory in quantum mechanics.


What are the characteristics of light?

Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that travels in waves and behaves like both a particle and a wave. It can be reflected, refracted, absorbed, and transmitted. Light has properties such as intensity, frequency, wavelength, and speed. It can also be polarized and exhibit interference and diffraction.


Does a light wave act like a moving particle?

No, a light wave does not act like a moving particle. Light waves exhibit properties of both waves and particles, known as wave-particle duality. In certain experiments, light behaves more like a wave, while in others, it behaves more like a particle.


Is light considered to be a wave of a particle?

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).


Light behaves primarily as a wave when it?

Light behaves primarily as a wave when it undergoes phenomena such as diffraction and interference. These behaviors are best explained by wave theory rather than particle theory.


Photoelectric affect what happens when light hits the metal?

When light hits a metal surface in the photoelectric effect, electrons are ejected from the metal if the light has sufficient energy (above the threshold frequency). This process demonstrates that light behaves as a particle (photons) with discrete energy levels when interacting with matter.