Greetings:
What is Light? Light is an EM-wave and particle.
What is an EM-wave? A wave that has an electric and magnetic component. If light is truely a binary operation (consisting of two individual physical fields) then why is it not possible to seperate each individual component into its most fundamental form? If there are physical restrictions on this process what are they?
And finally, in a philosophical sense, how can a concept rooted in experience be devoid of a temporal component? In other words, in the idea that light is an EM-wave (and particle) why is time not an essential feature of its description? As if to say, "Here it exists, but it does not relate to experience."
Please correct any conceptual mistakes made, and thanks for any well-meaning thoughts on this subject.
2007-07-25 20:41:35 · 5 answers · asked by reverendlovejoy75 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
OK, some older knowledge,
There has been no experiment which has clearly defined light as either wave or particle. Depending on the experiment, light has displayed characteristics of both particles and waves, therefor, light is said to be "wavicles". If someone could devise an experiment that would prove light is a particle or wave and at the same time disprove the other, all would be fine. Until that time light is a "thing" that has both particle and wave characteristics.
the second part of your question, experience itself can be devoid of a temporal component. If at any time you've experienced something of which you can safely assume the experience would be the same years later, the concept derived from that experience does not require a temporal component. Example: At room-temperature you slap your hand on a piece of stone and experience that it is hard. Consider if this fact might change over time, could the stone become soft? You disregard the possibility of the stone becoming soft at room-temperature and have thus created the concept: "At room-temperature, a stone is hard."
2007-07-25 21:54:32 · answer #1 · answered by Michiel C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light and magnetic components are as inseparable as time and space. Time is not a factor, it does not exist at the speed of light.
2007-07-29 06:04:04 · answer #2 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no electrical force and magnetic force seperately.
there is only one electromagnetic force, so its like asking how canu make one into two. u get it? emag is most fudemantal u cant break it up.
and i dont understand the second part of ur question. ibet ur doing ur phd in something other than physics
2007-07-25 21:06:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light is a physical existence whereas time is a concept of man that which doesn't exist when man fades and dies.
2007-07-25 20:46:03 · answer #4 · answered by Brian_Galang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Learn quantum electrodynamics and you will have an answer. Less than that and you won't understand. I said 'an answer' because until we have a theory of everything we will not have 'the answer', but QED is an amazingly complete theory.
2007-07-25 21:53:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋