4.4 Is Light a Wave or Particle?

Newton thought of light as

• an energy

• a wave

• a particle

• magic

Select all that apply. Newton's light theory explained the following well:

• reflection

• refraction

• diffraction

• dispersion

Which of the following arguments contradict the theory that light is a particle?

• Light reflects off surfaces.

• Light refracts through surfaces.

• Light particles often bounce off each other in random directions.

• Light is bright.

Huygen thought of light as

• a particle

• a wave

• magic

• a force

Select all that apply. Huygen's wave theory of light described the following well:

• reflection

• refraction

• partial reflection and refraction

• diffraction

Select all that apply. These observed phenomena support the idea that light is a wave.

• light from different sources can interfere with each other

• objects can have different colors

• light can travel very far

• light diffracts

What is a flaw of Huygen's light theory?

• light spreads out

• light diffracts

• light does not diffract

• light does not propagate backward

Light

• is a particle

• is a wave

• sometimes acts like a particle and sometimes acts like a wave

• always acts as both a particle and a wave