Dual Nature of Light

The dual nature of light means that light behaves both as a wave and as a particle. As a wave, light can spread out, bend around obstacles, and create patterns like those seen in a double-slit experiment. As a particle, light consists of tiny packets called photons, which carry energy and can knock electrons loose in materials. This dual behavior is crucial for understanding phenomena such as diffraction and interference (wave-like properties) as well as photoelectric effects (particle-like properties). Recognizing this duality helps explain the complex ways light interacts with matter in various contexts.