How can light behave both as a wave and a particle?

• A. It exhibits interference patterns
• B. It changes frequency
• C. It shows wave-particle duality
• D. It reflects off surfaces

Answer: (C)

Light exhibits behaviors characteristic of both waves and particles, a phenomenon known as wave-particle duality. This concept arose from various experiments and observations in physics, particularly in relation to quantum mechanics.

The wave nature of light is evident in phenomena like interference and diffraction, where multiple light waves overlap and create patterns. However, light also displays particle-like properties, particularly through the concept of photons, which are discrete packets of energy. This duality means that light can be described using wave equations to explain its propagation and interference while also being treated as a stream of particles when discussing interactions like the photoelectric effect.

Other options may touch on aspects related to light but do not encompass the full essence of light's behavior as both a wave and a particle. While interference patterns illustrate its wave-like nature, they do not address its particle characteristics. Changing frequency might occur in different contexts but does not inherently explain duality. Reflection is a property observable in waves, but it does not encompass the broader concept of wave-particle duality.