## Wave vs particle properties

$c=\lambda v$

Isabel Day 1D
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:15 am

### Wave vs particle properties

I'm, having a hard time understanding how light can have both wave and particle properties. Do both of these properties exist at the same time? If anybody has a good visual way of thinking about it that would be super helpful.

Kurtis Liang 3I
Posts: 50
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Wave vs particle properties

The idea is that light acts as BOTH a wave and a particle. The diffraction of light through a slit explains it's wave-like properties, and the photoelectric effect supports the argument that it can also behave like a packet of light, or a particle. What helped me understand it was looking more into Young's double-slit diffraction experiment.

Ali Polansky 1A
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:15 am
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Wave vs particle properties

Yes, both properties exist simultaneously. I found this video to be helpful in explaining the duality of light as a wave and as a particle.

claudia_1h
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:16 am

### Re: Wave vs particle properties

Yes, light does exhibit both particle-like and wavelike properties. In fact, all objects with momentum p have "wavelike properties" according to the De Broglie wave equation. However, not all particles (like the car example in class) have measurable wavelike behavior. Light can behave like both a particle and a wave, and does exhibit measurable wavelike behavior.

505306205
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:15 am
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### Re: Wave vs particle properties

It is also important to remember that equations for electromagnetic radiation (waves) cannot be directly applied to equations for measuring wavelength associated with an electron. For example, the equation: c = lamda x frequency cannot be used to solve for the electron's wavelength. There is a separate equation for that which is lamda = h/p.