Question

scientists now believe that light is both a wave and a particle. classify the following characteristics of light as a property of a wave or a property of a particle. can be absorbed or reflected, has mass, carries a quanta of energy, can bend or diffract, can knock electrons out of metals, travels at a speed of 3,000,000 kilometers per second. properties of light as a wave, properties of light as a particle

Explanation:

• Can be absorbed or reflected: Both waves and particles can exhibit this property. But in the context of light - particle (photon) interactions with matter, it is more associated with particle - like behavior as photons interact with atoms.
• Has mass: Light particles (photons) have zero rest - mass. This is not a property of light as a particle or wave in the traditional sense for light.
• Carries a quanta of energy: Light is composed of photons (particles) which carry discrete amounts of energy (quanta), a particle - like property.
• Can bend or diffract: This is a characteristic wave - like property. Waves can bend around obstacles or spread out when passing through narrow openings.
• Can knock electrons out of metals (Photoelectric effect): This is a particle - like property. Photons (light particles) with sufficient energy can eject electrons from a metal surface.
• Travels at a speed of 3,000,000 kilometers per second: This is a general property of light and is consistent with both wave and particle models in the context of the speed of light in a vacuum.

Answer:

Properties of light as a wave: Can bend or diffract
Properties of light as a particle: Can be absorbed or reflected, Carries a quanta of energy, Can knock electrons out of metals