2007-02-08 11:45:22 · 3 answers · asked by leyna_nguyen_0702 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Uh, how about a little more specificity in the question?
The photon is the gauge boson that mediates the electromagnetic field, the massless component of the electroweak field.
It couples to anything with charge (electrons, quarks, protons, etc).
I could write more about its macroscopic consequences, but I'd have to know what you're looking for here?
2007-02-08 11:49:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember, atomic physics is not nuclear, which is called strong interaction and the photon's role is very different.
Photons are emitted when electrons move from one orbital to another. The energies are not continuous but must follow Planck's equation E = h f (f being frequency and h is Planck's constant). These emissions are very useful in the characterization of atoms (simple or compound).
The photon has dual properties: as a particle due to its momentum and frequency as a wave.
2007-02-08 11:53:27 · answer #2 · answered by Sir Richard 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as acting like both a wave and a particle at the same time
2007-02-08 11:50:00 · answer #3 · answered by wyzrdofahs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋