Light is known to have a wave-particle duality

In summary, light exhibits a wave-particle duality, meaning it has properties of both a wave and a particle. This has been widely accepted in the scientific community and is evident in experiments such as the double slit experiment. In quantum mechanics, all particles are treated as probability wave functions, suggesting that particles may not be exactly what we think they are. This concept applies to all particles, not just light. Therefore, it is not accurate to ask whether light is a wave or a particle, as it exhibits characteristics of both.
  • #1
ashutosha
7
0
light is known to have a wave-particle duality
which of the 2 explain lights behavior best and which one is widely accepted?
 
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  • #2


There are aspects in which both cause different effects. Do to its ability to travel through a vacuum it has particle like properties, however in such applications such as Yeungs double slit experiment it acts as a wave
 
  • #3


yes but which one is accepted?
 
  • #4


That's not a valid question. Light has properties like a wave, and properties like a particle. Asking which one it is is like asking whether a bat is really a mouse or really a bird.
 
  • #5


ashutosha said:
yes but which one is accepted?

When talking about wave-particle duality, it means that it has been accepted that it acts both like a wave and a particle. If this were not so it would leave very big holes as to why many of lights characteristcs occur.
 
  • #6


ashutosha said:
light is known to have a wave-particle duality
which of the 2 explain lights behavior best and which one is widely accepted?

We now know that ALL particles have wave like character (electrons, protons, a baseball, etc.) it just happens to be more distinguished/obvious with light. In quantum mechanics all particles are treated as a probabiliity wave function which propogates through space (as oppose to some little point particle futzing around). So I guess you could say that the resolution to wave-particle duality is that we never knew what particles were really like to begin with, now we realize they all have wave-like characteristics.
 
  • #7


thanx...
 
  • #8


Vanadium 50 said:
Asking which one it is is like asking whether a bat is really a mouse or really a bird.
Well said.
 
  • #9


DaleSpam said:
Well said.


Thanks. I'm bucking for Physics Guru for next year. :biggrin:
 
  • #10


The fact of the matter is, we really don't know exactly what these things are. They act like particles at times, and like waves at others. In all likelihood, this means that they aren't either one, just something which acts like one or the other.
 

1. What is the wave-particle duality of light?

The wave-particle duality of light is a concept in physics that describes the behavior of light as both a wave and a particle. This means that light exhibits properties of both a wave, such as interference and diffraction, and a particle, such as energy and momentum.

2. How was the wave-particle duality of light discovered?

The wave-particle duality of light was first discovered by Thomas Young in 1801 through his famous double-slit experiment. This experiment showed that light could behave as both a wave and a particle, depending on how it was observed or measured.

3. What evidence supports the wave-particle duality of light?

There is a significant amount of evidence that supports the wave-particle duality of light. This includes the results of various experiments, such as the double-slit experiment, as well as the predictions and explanations provided by quantum mechanics, which is the theory that describes the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic level.

4. Can other forms of energy exhibit wave-particle duality?

Yes, other forms of energy, such as electrons and protons, have also been shown to exhibit wave-particle duality. This further supports the idea that all particles, including those that make up light, can behave as both waves and particles.

5. How does the wave-particle duality of light impact our understanding of the universe?

The wave-particle duality of light has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe, particularly in the field of quantum mechanics. It has helped scientists to better understand the behavior of particles at the subatomic level and has led to the development of new technologies, such as quantum computers, that rely on this duality.

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