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Electrons and photons behave as localised particles or spreading waves based on test setup. The figure is taken from Nobel Prize, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

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Matter and light display both wave and particle attributes

Electrons and photons behave as localised particles or spreading waves based on test setup

Double-slit experiments demonstrate that electrons pass through slits as wave interference patterns when unobserved, yet register as discrete single hits on a detector screen. Proposed by Louis de Broglie, wave-particle duality assigns a wavelength to any moving object based on its momentum. Quantum objects combine characteristics of both continuous waves and discrete particles.

Where this comes from

Nobel Prize

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Tags: physics, quantum mechanics, duality

Matter and light display both wave and particle attributes: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Electrons and photons behave as localised particles or spreading waves based on test setup. The figure is taken from Nobel Prize, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a science fact?: Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.