〰️Wave vs Particle⚛️
One of physics' deepest puzzles is that light and matter behave as both waves and particles, depending on how you observe them.
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〰️Wave
- ✓Spreads out continuously through space
- ✓Shows interference and diffraction patterns
- ✓Carries energy without transporting matter
- ✓Described by wavelength, frequency and amplitude
- ✓Explains color, sound and ripples on water
⚛️Particle
- ✓A localized, discrete lump of matter or energy
- ✓Has a definite position and can be counted
- ✓Carries momentum in collisions
- ✓Explains the photoelectric effect and quantized energy
- ✓Light particles are called photons
Verdict
Wave-particle duality says light and matter are neither purely wave nor purely particle. The double-slit experiment shows light interfering like a wave yet arriving as discrete photons.
Frequently asked
What is wave-particle duality?+
The principle that light and matter display both wave-like and particle-like properties depending on the experiment.
Who proposed light is made of particles?+
Einstein explained the photoelectric effect using light quanta, later named photons.
Does matter behave as a wave?+
Yes. Electrons and even atoms produce interference patterns, confirming the de Broglie wavelength.
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