Difference between photon vs particle


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derinceltik1K
Posts: 51
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:15 am

Difference between photon vs particle

Postby derinceltik1K » Sat Oct 19, 2019 4:30 pm

There was a question on the video assignment modules about this.
One answer had "photon" and the other one was "particle"
I thought they were interchangeable, but it seems like one is more appropriate than the other in some instances. Can someone explain?

Callum Guo 1H
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Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:15 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

Re: Difference between photon vs particle

Postby Callum Guo 1H » Sat Oct 19, 2019 5:40 pm

I think it's because photons are a type of particle with the unique property that they are both a particle with wavelike properties

Tiffany Vo 3G
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:17 am

Re: Difference between photon vs particle

Postby Tiffany Vo 3G » Sat Oct 19, 2019 6:54 pm

Photons also don't have a discernable mass while other particles do, so sometimes using photon over particle would be more specific.

Jenna Ortiguerra 4G
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:18 am

Re: Difference between photon vs particle

Postby Jenna Ortiguerra 4G » Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:53 pm

Photons are considered particles of light and are unique in which they're both a particle and a wave. Therefore, between a photon and a particle, a photon would be more specific, as a particle is more vast, defined by it's small size and several physical/chemical properties.

Maya Gollamudi 1G
Posts: 100
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:15 am

Re: Difference between photon vs particle

Postby Maya Gollamudi 1G » Sat Oct 19, 2019 8:47 pm

Photons refer to a specific type of particle- the discrete packets of light energy. In certain behaviors of light (like the photoelectric effect) the photons of light behave like general particles, whereas some of its other behaviors (diffraction) are wavelike.

Melvin Reputana 1L
Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:16 am

Re: Difference between photon vs particle

Postby Melvin Reputana 1L » Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:19 pm

All quantum objects, ex: photons and electrons, exhibit wave-like and particle-like properties. However, what distinguishes a photon from a particle is that a photon has zero rest mass compared to a particle. Photons also carry no electromagnetic charge compared to an electron which is negatively charged.


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