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Michael M
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Michael M asked in Science & MathematicsPhysics · 1 decade ago

Double slit experiment. Why?

In the double slit experiment, what really boggles my mind is that when both slits are open, there is an area of the screen where electrons rarely hit, which happens to correspond to the area where the wave function would interfere, hence wave particle duality. Did the electron start out as a wave and become a particle? Why didn't the wave become a particle as soon as it passed the barrier with the slits? Someone please explain what is happening physically, not mathimatically? And please don't throw in particle consciousness, or alternate dimensions.

Update:

Thanks for the comment Jani. If I translate what you're saying into the context of the double slit, it sounds like you are saying that since the wave goes through both slits, the wave can interferes with itself? And the wave pushes the particle away from the areas of interfereance?

Update 2:

If the particles aren't traveling in strait lines, wouldn't have mean that the frequency of the photons would determine the velocity of the photons? But it doesn't.

Also, what would happen if you changed the frequency of light going through one of the slits? Would there no longer be an interfereance pattern?

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    well light exists/behaves both as particles and waves at the same time. it doesn't just become one or the other depending on time.

    u have to think of it as if the particle is actually travelling in a wave.

    instead of being a straight line of particles; it is a line of particles travelling like waves(up and down)~~~~~~~~

    there r places of higher or lower concentration cause the wave intefierence makes the particles move with the waves, they dont just go in a straight line.

    hope this helps

    jani

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