Chapter 38, Problem 23A

To determine

The evidence for the wave nature and particle nature of the light.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

If the light behaves like a wave then it confirms the wave nature of the light and if the light behaves like an individual particle then it confirms the particle nature of the light.

If a beam of light gets diffracted or interfered due to obstacle in the path of the light or due to variation in the medium of the light beam then the light beam behaves like a wave and it confirms the wave nature of the light.

If the light falls on a surface then the photons of the light interact with the electrons of the surface like particle and energy transfers between them by the collision. The photoelectric effect shows the particle behavior of the light.

Conclusion:

The diffraction of the light is evidence for the wave nature and photoelectric effect is the evidence of the particle nature of the light.