3.2.2.4
Wave-particle duality: everything has both wave and particle properties
Energy Levels & Wave-Particle Duality — AQA A-Level Physics
Key Definition
Wave-particle duality — The concept that all matter and radiation exhibit both wave and particle properties.
- Light shows particle behaviour: the photoelectric effectThe emission of electrons from a metal surface when electromagnetic radiation of sufficiently high frequencyThe number of complete oscillations passing a point per unit time. Measured in hertz (Hz). is incident on it.. Photons interact one-at-a-time with electrons.
- Light shows wave behaviour: diffraction, interference (e.g. Young's double-slit experiment).
- Electrons show wave behaviour: electron diffraction through thin graphite crystals produces circular rings, similar to X-ray diffraction.
- Electrons show particle behaviour: they can be deflected by electric and magnetic fields, they have discrete chargeA property of matter that causes it to experience a force in an electromagnetic field. Measured in coulombs (C)..
- De Broglie proposed that all moving particles have an associated wavelengthThe minimum distance between two points on a wave that are in phase (e.g. crest to crest). Measured in metres (m)..
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