Exploring Wave-Particle Duality

Wave-particle duality = The concept that quantum entities exhibit particle or wave properties according to the experimental circumstances Classical concepts = Inability to fully describe the behavior of quantum objects Light = Found to behave as a wave and also discovered to have a particulate character Electrons = Act as particles and also discovered to have wavelike aspects

19th and early 20th centuries = Light was found to behave as a wave and electrons were found to act as particles Around the year 1900 = It was understood that light was a wave, and electrons as well as atoms were particles Quarter of a century after 1900 = Major change in scientific thinking with acceptance of quantization of light as well as wave behavior of electrons

Duality = Arose to name the contradictions between the behavior of light and electrons Quantization of light = Accepted as part of the major change in scientific thinking Wave behavior of electrons = Accepted as part of the major change in scientific thinking

<p>Quantum mechanics = Field of study where the concept of wave-particle duality exists Particle or wave properties = The way quantum entities behave according to the experimental circumstances Behavior of quantum objects = Cannot be fully described by classical concepts such as particle or wave</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Light = Found to have a particulate character in addition to behaving as a wave Electrons = Found to have wavelike aspects in addition to acting as particles 19th and early 20th centuries = Time period when the duality between light and electrons was discovered</p> Signup and view all the answers