How does light stay in motion? Why does it travel at it's speed? Does

AI Thread Summary
Light travels at its speed due to the principles outlined in Maxwell's equations, which describe electromagnetic waves propagating at the speed of light in a vacuum. In quantum mechanics, light consists of massless particles called photons, which inherently travel at this speed. Photons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like characteristics, making it inaccurate to classify light strictly as one or the other. The dual nature of light is a fundamental aspect of quantum physics. Understanding these concepts is essential for grasping the behavior of light in various contexts.
Cbray
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How does light stay in motion? Why does it travel at it's speed? Does it act as a particle or wave?

Any links I can read information from will be appreciated !~
 
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Cbray said:
Does it act as a particle or wave?

Any links I can read information from will be appreciated !~

Please start by reading the FAQ subforum in the General Physics section.

Zz.
 


wikipedia is good. Search wikipedia. Or google.
In classical electrodynamics, Maxwell's equations in free space give an electrodynamic wave which travels at c. This is the classical picture.
In quantum mechanics, light is made up of particles called photons which have zero rest mass and must therefore travel at c. These photons show both wave-like and particle-like properties (as with all quantum objects). In quantum mechanics, its not really correct to say something is a wave or is a particle.
 
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