The concept of wave-particle duality in electromagnetic waves means that electromagnetic radiation—like light—exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on how you observe or measure it.
Wave Aspect:
- Electromagnetic waves spread out and interfere with each other.
- They have characteristics like wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
- Phenomena such as diffraction, interference, and polarization show the wave nature.
Particle Aspect:
- Sometimes, electromagnetic waves behave as if they are made of tiny packets or particles called photons.
- Photons carry discrete amounts of energy proportional to the wave’s frequency.
- Effects like the photoelectric effect (where light ejects electrons from a metal surface) can only be explained if light behaves like particles.
Why It Matters:
- Wave-particle duality is fundamental in quantum mechanics.
- It shows that light and other electromagnetic radiation cannot be described fully just as waves or just as particles.
- This dual nature helps explain many phenomena in modern physics that classical physics could not.