Wave Particle Duality
Wave Particle Duality Visible light is one example of an electromagnetic wave… But there are also light particles called photons… So is light a wave or a particle? This is called the wave particle duality – light has properties of both waves and particles!
Evidence that Light is a WAVE Light has NO mass! Diffraction – light spreads out when it moves through an opening or past a barrier
Evidence that Light is a WAVE Refraction – light bends when it enters a new medium Interference – light waves can combine to create a pattern of bright and dark areas
Evidence that Light is a WAVE Polarization – light can be filtered to vibrate in a specific direction Doppler Effect – the frequency of light changes when the source of the light wave is moving
Evidence that Light is a PARTICLE Light can travel through a vacuum (empty space) Photoelectric Effect – shining a light on certain types of metal causes electrons to be released from the atoms in that metal