Photon
Photon
A photon is a type of elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force (even when static via virtual particles). The photon has zero rest mass and always moves at the speed of light within a vacuum.
Properties[edit | edit source]
Photons are massless, so they always move at the speed of light in a vacuum, 299792458 meters per second. The photon is also responsible for carrying electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces.
Wave–particle duality[edit | edit source]
Like all elementary particles, photons are currently best explained by quantum mechanics and exhibit wave–particle duality, exhibiting properties of both waves and particles.
Physical properties[edit | edit source]
Photons are massless, so they cannot slow down; they move at the speed of light in a vacuum. This speed is a constant of nature and is one of the fundamental constants in the theory of relativity.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Photons have many applications in technology. These include night vision goggles, spectroscopy, and highly accurate atomic clocks.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Quantum mechanics
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Speed of light
- Elementary particle
- Electromagnetic force
References[edit | edit source]
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