👉 Light particles, often referred to as photons or light-matter interactions, involve the expenditure of energy in various forms when they interact with matter. These particles, which are fundamental components of electromagnetic radiation, carry energy and momentum. When light particles (photons) collide with atoms or molecules, they can be absorbed, emitted, or scattered. Absorption occurs when a photon's energy matches the energy difference between two quantum states of an atom or molecule, causing an electron to jump to a higher energy level. Conversely, emission happens when an excited electron returns to a lower energy state, releasing a photon with energy equal to the difference between the two states. Scattering involves light particles changing direction upon interaction with matter, which can be elastic (no energy change) or inelastic (energy transfer). These processes are crucial in understanding phenomena like the photoelectric effect, spectroscopy, and the behavior of light in various media, underpinning technologies from solar cells to fiber optics.
