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
Answered by Jono G. Physics tutor

2413 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain quantitatively how an object can follow circular motion whilst on a ramp with no friction in the radial direction.


State the principle of superposition of waves and illustrate it schematically.


There is a train A. On the roof of A is another frictionless train B of mass Mb. A mass Mc hangs off the front of A and is attached to the front of B by rope and frictionless pulley. How fast should A accelerate so that B wont fall off the roof of A.


A student studied how a few parameters of the electromagnetic radiation affects the I-V(current-voltage) curve of photoelectricity. By increasing one parameter he saw that the saturation current has risen. Which parameter it was?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning