Is light a matter or energy?

Answer 1

The definition of matter is usually taken to be: anything

that has mass and occupies space or has volume. The definition of light is

those wavelengths of electromagnetic energy that can stimulate the retina of

the eye. Light is a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

This link will show you the elactromacnetic spectrum and its wavelengths.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The above definitions are fine but what do they mean. Mass is a quantity

that all matter posseses. When that mass is in the presence of a gravitational

field the mass will have weight.

Now that the definitions are there let's see if we can put them together to

answer your question. If light has mass and has a volume then it is matter,

if neither are true then light is not matter. We have been experimenting

with light for a long time. We have not been able to detect any mass

associated with light. Light does react to gravity but we have found no

evidence yet that it has mass. So it fails in the first test.

Does light take up space? We have no evidence that I am aware of that light

takes up space. Light can an will interact with matter in various ways.

When the sun shines on your skin it feels warm. We use micro waves to cook

food. You can think up other examples yourself.

Light and mass are related. According to Einstein's famous equation E=mc^2.

This tells us that mass can be converted into energy. The electromagnetic

spectrum is a result of this mass to energy conversion going on in the stars.

This is how our sun produces its energy.

So, is light matter?

To put it in more simple terms, light is energy and matter is made up of

atoms.

Answer 2

Light is a form of energy that behaves like both a wave and a particle. It does not consist of matter in the traditional sense, but it can interact with matter to exhibit properties of both energy and matter.