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Elementary Science Education

Light also behaves as particles–wave particle duality 

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      Bernard Nebel
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      Light also behaves as particles–wave particle duality 

      While the double slit experiment and the phenomenon of polarized light prove that light is waves, other experiments can only be interpreted in terms of light being particles (photons). One such experiment is the photoelectric effect described here:

      So, is light waves or is it particles? Which one is wrong? Experiments prove both are right!  What is apparently wrong is our concept that light must consistently be one thing or the other. Physicists nowadays accept what is known as the wave particle duality. The following is a fun video that gives an animated description of the experiments leading to this puzzle that leaves us all including physicists boggled. Perhaps your kid will figure it out some day.

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