Photon

Quantum of electromagnetic radiation.

light particle

A photon is an elementary particle that serves as the quantum of electromagnetic radiation, including light. It is massless, has no electric charge, and always travels at the speed of light in a vacuum. Photons are responsible for mediating electromagnetic interactions between charged particles.

Pronunciation

/ˈfoʊtɒn/

Etymology

The term 'photon' was coined by Gilbert N. Lewis in 1926.

Explain Like I’m 5

A photon is like a tiny packet of light, carrying energy from one place to another - think of it as a little bundle of sunshine!

Fun Facts

Photons always travel at the speed of light
They have no electric charge
Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his work on the photoelectric effect, which involved photons

FAQ

What is a photon? It's a particle that carries electromagnetic energy
Does light have mass? No, photons are massless
What created the concept of a photon? Max Planck first proposed it in 1900 to explain black-body radiation

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

elementary particle boson

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

electromagnetic radiation light

Indexes

elementary particle physical entity

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