The main evidence for light being an electromagnetic wave comes from the work of James Clerk Maxwell, who developed the theory of electromagnetism in the 19th century. His equations showed that light is a type of electromagnetic radiation, along with other forms such as radio waves and X-rays.
The behavior of light can be explained using the principles of electromagnetism. Light can be polarized, meaning its electric and magnetic fields are oriented in specific directions, and can also be affected by electric and magnetic fields in its path. This indicates that light has both electric and magnetic components.
One of the most famous experiments that demonstrated the wave nature of light was the double-slit experiment, conducted by Thomas Young in the early 1800s. This experiment showed that light behaved like a wave, with interference patterns forming when it passed through two small slits. Another important experiment was conducted by Heinrich Hertz in the late 1800s, where he successfully produced and detected electromagnetic waves.
Yes, other forms of electromagnetic radiation such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays can also be considered as forms of light. They all have the same fundamental properties of light, including the ability to travel through a vacuum at the speed of light and exhibit wave-like behaviors.
The wave-particle duality of light, which states that light can behave as both a wave and a particle, is consistent with the concept of light as an electromagnetic wave. Light can behave like a wave, with properties such as interference and diffraction, but it can also exhibit particle-like behavior, such as the photoelectric effect, where it behaves like a stream of particles called photons. This duality is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics, which explains the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level.