👉 Light particles, often referred to as photons, are fundamental constituents of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. These particles are characterized by their extremely small mass and high energy, making them incredibly lightweight compared to matter particles like electrons or protons. Photons are massless and travel at the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately 299,792 kilometers per second. They are the quanta of the electromagnetic field, meaning they exist as discrete packets of energy rather than continuous waves. This property allows photons to carry energy and momentum, which is crucial for phenomena such as the photoelectric effect, where light can eject electrons from a material, and in the interaction of light with matter, leading to processes like absorption, reflection, and refraction. Specialists in light particles study these properties to understand fundamental aspects of physics, including quantum mechanics and electromagnetism, and apply this knowledge in technologies ranging from lasers and fiber optics to solar cells and medical imaging.
