Light can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on the context and the phenomena being observed. In terms of its propagation through space, light is known to travel in straight lines, following a path called a ray. This behavior is known as rectilinear propagation. When light encounters an obstacle or passes through a medium with a different refractive index, it may change direction due to phenomena like reflection or refraction, but it continues to travel in straight lines.
On the other hand, light also demonstrates wave-like behavior. This is evident in phenomena such as interference, diffraction, and polarization. The wave nature of light is described by the theory of electromagnetic waves, where light is considered an electromagnetic wave composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. These waves exhibit characteristics such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude, similar to other types of waves.
The dual nature of light, exhibiting both wave and particle properties, is described by quantum mechanics. According to the wave-particle duality concept, light can behave as both a wave and a particle called a photon, depending on the experimental setup and the observation being made.