Wave or Particle? - Quick Quiz

Which of the following observations best supports the wave model of light?

• Light travels in straight lines.

• Light produces an interference pattern in the double-slit experiment.

• Light reflects off mirrors at equal angles.

• Light transfers energy to metal surfaces, causing electrons to be emitted.

Which phenomenon is best explained by the particle model of light?

• Diffraction of light around obstacles

• Formation of rainbows

• Photoelectric effect

• Refraction of light in a glass prism

In refraction, light bends because:

• It speeds up in a denser medium.

• It slows down in a denser medium.

• The energy of the light increases.

• The light is absorbed completely.

Which experiment provided strong evidence that light behaves as a wave?

• Photoelectric effect experiment by Einstein

• Double-slit experiment by Young

• Law of reflection experiment by Newton

• Discovery of radio waves by Hertz

Why do modern scientists consider light to have both wave and particle properties?

• Because it only behaves as a wave in some conditions

• Because the speed of light changes depending on its form

• Because experiments show that it behaves as both a wave and a particle

• Because scientists are still debating its true nature