Just some attributes to the question: If yes, following the principle that matter occupies space, but why does it happen that when you open a flashlight with the tip dipped in the water, it doesn't take over the water? If no, following trhe law of impenetrability, why is a shadow(BLOCKING of the passage of light) produced when you stand in a place blocking the stream of the light?
2006-09-23 19:39:03 · 10 answers · asked by Ryan 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Light is a form of energy, not matter. Although it has no mass it can be affected by gravity (as ultimately by Einstein's equations energy = mass).
2006-09-23 20:03:00 · answer #1 · answered by midwestbruin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The nature of light is a question that has resulted in the development of a lot of physical science. Light is considered to be a kind of electromagnetic energy and to exhibit characteristics of both a wave and a particle.
In some ways this helps to answer your question - as a particle it can be seen to create the shadow that you mentioned and as a wave it is possible to have light form patterns of interference when it passes through certain substances like a lens or a transparent fluid or gas, and yet not fill up a volume of water or air.
This 'dual nature' of light is still not completely understood - so it is still possible to discover something which we do not yet know about the nature of light.
That is one of the reasons that so many people pursue science - there is a joy in discovering some new answer to the puzzles all around us.
2006-09-23 20:01:11 · answer #2 · answered by Michael Darnell 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation.
It doesn't take over the water, because water is a translucent medium. that is, photons can easily pass trough the molecules. Shadows are created by materials that don't allow light to pass. Regarding the fact that most of the times light travels in a straight line (except when it passes strong gravitational fields), no dirrect light falls on the surface behind the matte object, therefore creating the lighting difference we percieve.
2006-09-23 22:31:55 · answer #3 · answered by Akasha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How to interpret your question.
First, thanks to Einstein's work with Maxwell's equations, he arrived at his famous equation E=mc^2. This means that matter and energy are equivalent. They can be converted into each other through interactions and reactions in certain systems. Light, or more precisely, photons, or even more precisely, units or quanta of electromagnetic radiation can be affected by lots of things. It can be refracted or reflected and even have its path curved because of a severe gravity well or curvature in spacetime. Now, rarely will a photon be converted directly into some particle of matter. More likely some nuclear or chemical reaction of matter will cause energy to be released in the form of photons of not just visible light, but other forms of electromagnetic radiation like gamma rays, X-rays, etc. This energy can be absorbed by some matter, like an object causing a shadow. This usually causes the energy of the photon to have an effect on the particles of the object by raising its temperature. Temperature is just a measure of the motion of an object's atomic particles. More motion energy, higher temperature; less motion energy, lower temperature. Photons of visible light are scattered, or refracted, quite a bit by moloecules of H2O or water. Not to mention all the "salts" in ocean water if that's what you're shining the light into. However, other photons of electromagnetic radiation are not scattered as much in water: radio waves, X-rays, microwaves. All frequencies of radiation in the electormagnetic spectrum are transmitted or travel in quanta called photons. That whole wave-particle duality thing.
2006-09-23 21:12:34 · answer #4 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not a matter for sure, -why doesn't it take over the water??!!....
well, i think because water is a matter, and if you ever saw a pic. of the bottom of the see or even a swimming pool, you'll find the shadow of the waves, which is nothing but water....
and why does it stopped by an object in it's way creating Shadow, is because, it doesn't go through things, perhaps it'll go in water for a certain distance but it's all about it's density and stuff......ANDDD, i think that's why we are slow...hehehe.....coz if light passes through us, or objects that we usually see having shadows, then the object must be faster than the speed of light it self.....which means light is passing through it's moleculs, which means that the object is transparent, which really means, that the object is NOTHING, but SPACE.....hehehhee.....
heheh, what am i saying....i think that my brain is still working and that am still creating theories...:-D....
2006-09-23 19:57:28 · answer #5 · answered by Gossai 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Light is not containable, it must be created from another property.
2006-09-23 19:41:09 · answer #6 · answered by Eric A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's a really good question.
Another one of god's mysteries I guess...
just like darker colours attracting warmth, and shadow being the collest place when it's hot...:)
2006-09-23 19:42:38 · answer #7 · answered by James N 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ah, yes, but how about this:
Light is not matter but does have mass.........
***** isnt it?
2006-09-23 19:42:09 · answer #8 · answered by Tristansdad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because it doesnt take up space and you cant feel it
2006-09-23 19:40:30 · answer #9 · answered by no picture 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it must if the gravity of a black hole sucks it in
2006-09-23 20:39:11 · answer #10 · answered by john doe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋