LIGHT & the WAVE/PARTICLE evidence

• At low frequencies, like the radio region, the wave like properties dominate.

• As the frequencies rise through Ultraviolet, wave like properties become less observable and particle like properties begin to dominate. Gamma photons from nuclear disintegrations are very particle like. It is very difficult to carry out diffraction experiments with them as the wavelength is too short.

"bits" are now called PHOTONS

attachment______________________

WAVE CHARACTERISTICS	PARTICLE CHARACTERISTICS
Refraction with decreasing speed in medium	Black body radiation implies "bits" of radiation
Diffraction	Photo-electric effect requires energy "bits"
Interference	X-ray production's upper frequency limit
Polarization	Compton Effect - momentum of "bits"
	Atomic Line Spectra - energy of orbital changes - "bit" energies