The Physics of Light

Light is a form of energy that travels as waves and particles called photons. It moves through space at a constant speed—about 186,000 miles per second—allowing us to see objects around us. Light behaves both as a wave, with properties like wavelength and frequency, and as particles, which explains phenomena like reflection, refraction, and dispersion. Its behavior depends on the medium it travels through, bending when passing through different materials. These properties of light underpin many technologies, from vision to communication, and are fundamental to understanding how the universe interacts with electromagnetic energy.