photons vs quanta

[Funmi Baruwa]

In lecture 5, Dr. Lavelle said that "light is emitted in discrete units, quanta or photons"

Can someone explain the difference between quanta and photons?

[Faaizah Arshad 1H]

This is an interesting question! I researched into it and found that a photon is the smallest possible particle of LIGHT, whereas a quanta is the smallest particle of ANY atomic/subatomic substance (electrons and neutron). So, a photon is a quanta, but not all quanta are photons.

http://www.quantumphysicslady.org/what- ... 0neutrinos.

[Funmi Baruwa]

oh okay that makes a lot more sense! Thank you

[Alessia Renna 1D]

Quanta are like units --> they are the smallest unit/particle of something. Photons are the smallest unit/particles of light so technically they are quanta of light. :)