Photon

From WikiMD's Medical Encyclopedia

Revision as of 21:11, 23 February 2025 by Prab (talk | contribs) (CSV import)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Elementary particle or quantum of light


A photon is a type of elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force (even when static via virtual particles). The photon has zero rest mass and always moves at the speed of light within a vacuum.

Properties[edit]

Photons are massless, so they always move at the speed of light in a vacuum, 299792458 meters per second. The photon is also responsible for carrying electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces.

Wave–particle duality[edit]

Like all elementary particles, photons are currently best explained by quantum mechanics and exhibit wave–particle duality, exhibiting properties of both waves and particles.

Physical properties[edit]

Photons are massless, so they cannot slow down; they move at the speed of light in a vacuum. This speed is a constant of nature and is one of the fundamental constants in the theory of relativity.

Applications[edit]

Photons have many applications in technology. These include night vision goggles, spectroscopy, and highly accurate atomic clocks.

See also[edit]

This article is a stub.

You can help WikiMD by registering to expand it.
Editing is available only to registered and verified users.
WikiMD is a comprehensive, free health & wellness encyclopedia.

  • Photoelectric effect in a solid - diagram
    Photoelectric effect in a solid - diagram
  • 1926 Gilbert N. Lewis letter which brought the word "photon" into common usage
    1926 Gilbert N. Lewis letter which brought the word "photon" into common usage
  • Light cone colour
    Light cone colour
  • Young Diffraction
    Young Diffraction
  • Light wave
    Light wave
  • Bohr atom PAR
    Bohr atom PAR
  • Stimulated emission
    Stimulated emission
  • Visible EMR Wavelengths
    Visible EMR Wavelengths
  • Electron scattering
    Electron scattering
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Ad. Transform your health with W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep & MedSpa

Tired of being overweight?

Get started with evidence based, physician-supervised

affordable GLP-1 weight loss injections

Now available in New York City and Philadelphia:

✔ Evidence-based medical weight loss ✔ Insurance-friendly visits available ✔ Same-week appointments, evenings & weekends

Learn more:

Start your transformation today with W8MD weight loss centers.

Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD Medical Encyclopedia

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Content may be inaccurate or outdated and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions. Verify information with trusted sources such as CDC.gov and NIH.gov. By using this site, you agree that WikiMD is not liable for any outcomes related to its content. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Retrieved from "https://wikimd.org/index.php?title=Photon&oldid=6341361"