The discussion centers around the nature of light, specifically whether it behaves as a particle or a wave. Participants explore concepts related to wave-particle duality, interactions of light with air, and the implications of these interactions in different contexts, including sonic booms and high-energy phenomena.
Participants express differing views on the nature of light, with some agreeing on its duality while others propose that it may not conform strictly to either classification. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these views.
Participants reference the need for a massive object to generate sonic booms and the conditions under which light interacts with matter, indicating that assumptions about particle behavior may depend on specific contexts and definitions.
K^2 said:... He thinks individual photons traveling through air should generate sonic booms because speed of light is greater than speed of sound.
I don't think any particle beam would generate a sonic boom traveling through air at supersonic speeds. Seems to me like you need a fairly massive object for that. But I could be off.
In any case, light interacts with air as a wave. Keep in mind that all particles exhibit duality. They have wave-like properties and particle-like properties. Nothing is strictly one or the other. But different interactions can result in one or the other manifesting strongly. Wavelength of visible light being greater than size of molecules in air, and even greater than average distance between molecules, light will interact with air as a wave. Therefore, there are no particle-like collisions between photons and air molecules.
At sufficiently high energies, such as these of gamma radiation, photons will begin interacting with air in a more particle-like manner.
That is true.i thought light is both a particle and wave.
norhh said:Thanks i did not knew that thing i thought light is both a particle and wave.