Suppose a source of spotlight produces millions of light rays to travel left. When we get far enough from the source, there should be gaps between light rays but why can we still see light when we stand between the gaps?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Light has both wave-like and particle-like behavior. Diffraction and diffusion and wave-like behavior keep "rays" from having  "gaps."

theeric · Answer

@douglaswinslowcooper
So can light be considered continuous because of it's wave nature? And the directions of propagation infinite? Unless the light is co-linear, in which case there is one direction of propagation, of course. Even though perfectly co-linear waves are ideal.

theeric · Answer

@errwrsysalan ,
did douglaswinslowcooper's reply help you?

anonymous · Answer

Yeah.. Sorry I was trying to reply on my phone but I can't. He's answer is good but I want to know how wave-like behavior keep "rays" away from having "gaps."

anonymous · Answer

Thank you guys

theeric · Answer

I just asked more questions, but you're welcome! :)

anonymous · Answer

@errwrsysalan, waves are continuous, which is to say there are no gaps.  Light rays are described by electromagnetic theory and are defined as electromagnetic waves

The dual nature of light, i.e. its particle and wave nature, means that if you do a test for its particle nature, you'll get particle results, i.e. photon counts, individual strikes on a CCD, and etc. If you do a test to measure its wave nature, you get results consistent with that wave nature.  You cannot however get both results simultaneously from the same measurement.  Those rays that you might draw on paper are limited description of the actual wave behavior of light.

anonymous · Answer

I see. Thank you. So does light usually travel in a shape?

anonymous · Answer

Anyway, I think so. Thank you guys. I am going to end this post cause I want to ask another question.

anonymous · Answer

Can light travel in a shape?  If by shape you mean a certain cross-section, absolutely.  Look at a laser beam.  It roughly travels as a column (although in reality it's more complex.  It's something called a Gaussian Beam).  There are even "light fields" (a laser beam is a light field, as is the light given off by a bulb) that are "self-focusing" and travel in interesting shapes.  If you get curious you might look those beams up.  They're called Airy Beams.

anonymous · Answer

Well. What I meant by shape is that light doesn't travel in infinite number of rays instead it travels in a shape like cone and column (you just mentioned). And thank you very much. Your explanation is very detail. Can you answer this question as well please? http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/535461e6e4b099894ae19cb9