Question

What is the origin of light & it's properties?

Can someone please explain?

Answer 1

properties: wave-particle duality. The double slit experiment for example shows that light can be in waves while the photoelectric effect shows that light comes in packets of energy(quanta) called photons.

Answer 2

That explains the characteristics of light and its composition but I'm not sure how it explains its origin.

Answer 3

This is my first response, Photons can only be absorbed from the universe and its sun and stars the origin must come from vibrations created by space and time which in turn are displayed by different colored light coming from frequencies as a result of the heartbeat of our universe, sound and movement can be translated into frequencies in turn that represent color. concentrated molecules of light /photons applied to your body in a small area for predetermined time can change the hemoglobin in your blood... self healing, I am the light, he said let there be light...white light is all light within our spectrum of sight using a prism is there no end to the power of the photon????? cleanses, reboots, identifies, brings a source of meditation and balance wow is there any other beginning and end?? We all see the light sooner or later,or so they say in every language around the world!! Not trying to be a know it all just happy to talk about my ideas...I am here to learn and hope for feedback and knowledge

Answer 4

the origin would be the big bang actually

Answer 5

http://dao.mit.edu/~wen/pub/light.pdf just read the beginning because it is packed with mathematics

Answer 6

Light that is created today (compared to light created in the past and now traveling across the universe if it wasn't absorbed) occurs when one or more electrons instantly change their energy state from that of a higher energy state to a lower one. When an electron drops from one of the atom's energy states to another (it de-excites), a photon is given off with a particular Quanta of energy. This quantum of energy is of a single wavelength. If the electron de-excites to a different level, a different Quantum of energy (photon) would be emitted - and a different wavelength of light would be emitted.
Each atom will give off more than one specific wavelength of color depending upon which state the electron(s) change from and de-excite to. Even Hydrogen, which has only one electron, can change from from one of 4 excited states to another lower excited state, including the ground state. Each different change emits a photon of a different wavelength.
Light (energy) can also be absorbed by atoms via their electrons. If a photon (of light whose wavelength matches that of one of the wavelengths the atom can emit) is absorbed by an electron (that is already at the correct lower state and can jump to the proper energy state for that wavelength), the electron will jump up to the appropriate higher energy state absorbing a "quantum" of light energy, a photon.
Light is produced (in the above method) by exciting the atoms by means of applying energy. EXAMPLE: Incandescent light bulbs emit light by having an applied voltage create a moving electric current (electrons) through a resistance (the light bulb's filament). Because the electrons have difficulty moving from one atom's electron shell to another, the electrons of each atom interact with the moving electrons, becoming more excited. This "excitement" causes them to move to higher energy states by absorbing the quantum of energy required to change the electron to a new state. As they cannot maintain this state forever (even forever is a very short time on the atomic scale) the electron jumps back down to a lower state and a photon of light is emitted. Note that most of the energy emitted by an incandescent light bulb is in the form of Infrared light. These are also wavelengths atoms can emit photons at.

Answer 7

So generally speaking light are the atoms that surround us and engulf us, the distribution of energy is based upon measure?

Answer 8

Light is made up of "Photons" that originate in light producing sources (light bulbs, fire, the Sun, etc.) and then are:
A) Absorbed by objects like dark paint, asphalt, the retina of your eye, etc.
B) Reflected off surfaces like white paint, clouds, chrome, etc.
C) Partially reflected off materials that reflect just some of the light (like grey surfaces, water, etc.,)
D) Or partially reflected off "colored" surfaces like colored paint, leaves, clothing, your skin, etc.

"Atoms" are NOT light. They are:
1) A source of light by their electrons jumping to a lower energy state and releasing photons,
2) Absorb light by the electrons absorbing the photons and jumping to a higher state of energy,
3) Or the atoms can interact with the light by bending it - like when it passes through glass or water.

Yes, light surrounds us as it bounces off many different things. But what do you mean by "...distribution of energy is based upon measure?"