Is a photon a wave or a particle??

This question was answered most famously by Young's double slit experiment. The double slit experiment shows that photons (as well as all light and matter) can be thought of as both a wave AND a particle. As a beam of particles is fired at two slits the beam splits and reforms on the other side of the slits to form a diffraction pattern (wave-like). However, the diffraction patterns are always observed to be created from a build up of descrete points (particle-like). Sometimes we must use a wave model and sometimes a particle model to describe light and matter depending on the behaviour.   

JG

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A simple pendulum is an example of a system in Simple Harmonic Motion, using conservation laws find a) the greatest speed of the bob and b) the magnitude of speed at a height of 1.0cm above the minimum point. Given it starts at rest, at a height of 20cm.


Derive the kinetic theory equation pV=Nm/3(crms2) for an ideal gas.


Name the four fundamental forces.


Why do atoms larger than iron release energy when they undergo fission?