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 ▸

Define a geostationary orbit


A spacecraft needs to be slowed down from a speed of 96m/s to 8.2m/s. This can be done by firing an object as the spacecraft is moving. If the mass of the spacecraft is 6730kg and the object is 50kg, calculate the velocity of the ejected object.


In one second a mass of 210 kg of air enters at A. The speed of this mass of air increases by 570 m s–1 as it passes through the engine. Calculate the force that the air exerts on the engine.


What is the difference between a vector and a scalar quantity?