Wave particle duality means that
Correct answer: B. light and matter each show wave behaviour in some experiments and particle behaviour in others
- A. light is a wave and matter is a particle, always
- B. light and matter each show wave behaviour in some experiments and particle behaviour in others
- C. waves and particles are the same thing in every respect
- D. particles travel in waves through a medium
Explanation
Interference and diffraction reveal the wave nature of light, while the photoelectric and Compton effects reveal its particle nature, and electron diffraction shows that matter behaves the same way. Which aspect appears depends on the experiment performed, and no single experiment shows both at once. This complementarity is a foundation of quantum mechanics.
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About Photons and the Particle Model of Light
The particle model treats light as photons with energy E equals hf and momentum related to wavelength. Questions involve the photoelectric effect, work function, threshold frequency, stopping potential and photon energy, while distinguishing particle behaviour from the wave description of interference and diffraction.
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