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Photons

Definition

Photons are particles of light that carry energy and have zero mass. They behave both as particles and waves, and their energy is directly proportional to their frequency.

Analogy

Imagine photons as tiny packets of energy that travel in waves like ripples on the surface of a pond. Just like how bigger ripples carry more energy, higher frequency photons carry more energy.

Related terms

Photo-electrons: When photons strike certain materials, they can knock out electrons from the material's surface. These ejected electrons are called photo-electrons.

Einstein relationship: The Einstein relationship states that the energy (E) of a photon is equal to Planck's constant (h) multiplied by its frequency (f), expressed as E = hf.

Wave-particle duality: This term refers to the concept that particles like photons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior depending on how they are observed or interacted with.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.