answersLogoWhite

0

I presume you asking, "How can an atom of size about 1 angstrom absorb a photon whose wavelength is 5000 angstroms? Wouldn't the photon be too large for that atom?"

The paradox is resolved in this way: the instant you start to discuss electro-magnetic radiation as a photon instead of a transverse electro-magnetic wave, then you negate the wave-length aspect of the light. Instead, you view light as a collection of photons -- particles whose "size" (if that word has meaning) is point-like -- with a specific energy instead of specific wavelength.

A photon is NOT a snake-like wave, vibrating like a rubber band, with a length at least that of its wave-length, as it moves through a medium. A photon is a point particle with a specific energy.

You can describe light as a EM wave with a wave-length OR as a collection of point particles. You can NOT do both at the same time. Light exhibits the characteristics of one OR the other, but NEVER both.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What is the wavelength of 60 hertz?

60Hz has a wavelength of 5000 meters.


What is the energy in a quantum of radiation having wave length 5000?

here, energy E = hf where h = plank const, f = c*wavelenght c =3*10^8m/s h = 6.626*10^-34 then simplyfying got ans....


What are facts about sea sponges?

there is over 5000 speciesThey absorb water and you can release it by squeezing it


Why would you say there are no peaks in the range between 5000 angstroms and 6100 angstroms?

The absence of peaks in that range could indicate that the material being analyzed does not strongly absorb or emit light within that wavelength range. It could also suggest that the material has a smooth or continuous absorption or emission profile in that region.


What is a sound wave of 125hz and the speed of 5000 ms?

A sound wave with a frequency of 125 Hz has a wavelength of 40 meters (speed = frequency x wavelength). At a speed of 5000 m/s, this sound wave would have a period of 0.08 seconds (period = 1 / frequency).


What is the wavelength of the Hz radio wave used by decontrolled clocks and wristwatches?

The radio waves used by radio-controlled clocks and wristwatches operate at a frequency of 60 kHz, which corresponds to a wavelength of approximately 5000 meters. This wavelength allows the signal to penetrate buildings and obstacles, ensuring accurate time synchronization.


A star temperature of 10000 K will be how much brighter than a star at a temperature of 5000 K?

A blackbody at a temperature of 10,000 K will emit most of its photons at what wavelength


What is 5027 rounded to nearest 1000?

5000


What is the period of a wave with a wave speed of 50 meters per second and a wavelength of 10 milimeters?

Period = Wavelength/Speed = 10mm/50,000 mm/s = 1/5000 s or 0.0002 seconds


What is 4621 rounded to the nearest thousand?

5000


Can you show some best tennis rackets with less cost?

Babolat Extra Sweet spot. Rs.5000 and it does not need Shock absorb. I think this is cheapest and best in Babolat.


What is 4906 rounded to the nearest thousand?

5000