The behavior of light in the real world can be described as having both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on the experimental context. This duality is known as the wave-particle duality of light.
Wave-like behavior: Light exhibits characteristics of a wave, such as interference, diffraction, and polarization. When light interacts with narrow slits or obstacles, it can diffract, producing an interference pattern. This behavior is consistent with the wave nature of light.
Particle-like behavior: Light also exhibits properties that are indicative of particles called photons. Photons carry discrete amounts of energy and momentum. When light interacts with matter, it can transfer its energy to electrons, causing the emission of photoelectrons, which is explained by the particle-like nature of light.
The wave-particle duality of light is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, which describes the behavior of particles and waves at the microscopic level. It suggests that light and other particles can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on the experimental setup and the observations made.