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When light behaves like a particle what is the particle called?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
A photon.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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How can light be defined in simplest form?
The common definition of 'light' (visible) is electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye. It is only a small part of what is known as the 'electromagnetic spectrum' - which is the range of wavelengths of all possible electromagnetic radiation. Light is electromagnetic radiation, as reported. But, even though it behaves like a wave, it also behaves as a particle. We can call a particle of light a photon. Light has two identities, a "duality" of sorts, that is called wave-particle duality. That's about as simple as it can get. Light is called a "wavicle" by some, and for reason that it displays qualities of both a wave and a particle.
Which model of light states that light travels in a series of waves?
The wave theory of light is the idea, supported by a number of scientists over the years, that light behaves as waves. It has been superseded by Quantum theory, which says (in part) that light sometimes behaves like a particle and sometimes like a wave.
What two ways do electrons behave?
Any particle, such as an electron, also behaves as a wave (as well as behaving like a particle).
Can light travel thought a vacuum why or why not?
Light can travel through a "vacuum" because the vacuum has a medium to transport light. Light can travel through a vacuum due to its dual nature; it can exhibit behaviours of either particles or waves, depending on the conditions under which it is observed, a situation called "particle/wave duality". A wave would need a medium to propagate (move) through, but a particle is like a tiny bullet, and can move independently (though still affected by) of the medium. In the case of a vacuum (by definition a space containing no matter), light behaves like a particle (called a photon), and moves through it in a straight line, unaffected. If, in that vacuum, it encounters something else, say a diffraction grating, its wave nature appears and it diffracts (spreads out), exactly as a wave would, but a particle would not.
Does light have frequencies?
Light exhibits the qualities of both a particle and a wave. Wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept of quantum mechanics, and it is used to assist in explaining the nature of, in this case, light. Light does, indeed, exhibit both the qualities of a particle and those of a wave. And why is light a wave? Because it is. It is a wave because being a wave is an integral part of its fundamental nature. We cannot separate the wave characteristic from light and still have light. Light behaves like a wave, and that is why it is a wave. Perhaps it might be more helpful to say light behaves as it does, and "wave" is the word we use to describe its behavior. Perhaps that perspective, the view that light does its thing and we call what it does a wave, will make it easier to understand and accept that light is a wave. A couple of links are provided to related articles posted by our friends at Wikipedia, where knowledge is free.
Does light behave only like a wave?
No it also behaves like a particle
How can light be defined in simplest form?
The common definition of 'light' (visible) is electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye. It is only a small part of what is known as the 'electromagnetic spectrum' - which is the range of wavelengths of all possible electromagnetic radiation. Light is electromagnetic radiation, as reported. But, even though it behaves like a wave, it also behaves as a particle. We can call a particle of light a photon. Light has two identities, a "duality" of sorts, that is called wave-particle duality. That's about as simple as it can get. Light is called a "wavicle" by some, and for reason that it displays qualities of both a wave and a particle.
What radioactive emission is a particle?
Alpha emission is a 4helium nucleus, which behaves like a particle. Beta emission is an electron, which behaves like a particle. Gamma emission is a photon, which behaves like a particle. Experiments can also be set up to show their wavelike properties (for alpha, beta, and gamma radiation).
Which model of light states that light travels in a series of waves?
The wave theory of light is the idea, supported by a number of scientists over the years, that light behaves as waves. It has been superseded by Quantum theory, which says (in part) that light sometimes behaves like a particle and sometimes like a wave.
Why light has dual character?
WHY does light have a dual character? As far as we can tell, in our Universe, it just DOES. There's nothing about our Universe that would require that light sometimes behaves like a particle, but, whether we like it or not, in our Universe it does.
Does light only travel in waves?
If you set up an experiment with equipment that detects and measures wave properties and then run light through it, light behaves like waves. If you set up an experiment with equipment that detects and measures particle properties and then run light through it, light behaves like particles. Light exhibits the propertiers of both waves and particles.
Does light oscillate back and forth between wave and particle like behavior?
No need to oscillate. It always behaves like whichever one your experiment is set up to detect.
The smallest particle of oxygen that behaves like oxygen is an oxygen?
An oxygen atom
What two ways do electrons behave?
Any particle, such as an electron, also behaves as a wave (as well as behaving like a particle).
Why can light be treated like a particle?
Light comes in chunks of energy called photons.
What give us light?
Light is given by a subatomic particle called a photon. All types of light are transferred by this from gamma rays to microwaves. Although It is called a particle from the double slit experiment we can see that the photon can act like particle and a wave
What are the problems with the particle theory?
Electromagnetic radiation sometimes behaves like waves - for example, interference.
