👉 Light, often conceptualized as an electromagnetic wave, can also be understood through the lens of particle physics, specifically through the concept of light particles known as photons. Photons are massless, charge-free particles that exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, a duality central to quantum mechanics. In this framework, light particles are discrete packets of energy, each carrying an amount proportional to the frequency of the light they represent, as described by Planck's equation \( E = h\nu \), where \( E \) is energy, \( h \) is Planck's constant, and \( \nu \) is the frequency. This particle nature of light explains phenomena such as the photoelectric effect, where light can eject electrons from a material only if its photons have sufficient energy. Despite their particle-like behavior, photons also exhibit wave properties, such as interference and diffraction, which are essential for understanding light's behavior in various optical systems. Thus, the continuity of light as both a wave and a particle underscores the complexity and elegance of quantum theory, bridging classical and modern physics.
