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

2436 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Calculate the root mean squared speed for 16g of oxygen gas at 50(deg Celsius) and explain why we use this instead of the average velocity of all the particles.


A cricketer throws a ball vertically upwards so that the ball leaves his hands at a speed of 25 m/s. Calculate the maximum height reached by the ball, the time taken to reach max. height, and the speed of the ball when it is at 50% max. height.


How would you calculate the moment of a Force on a rigid object?


Explain how the photoelectric effect gives evidence for the photon theory of light.


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