Wave or Particle? How Light Outgrew Both

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Isaac Newton’s avatar
Isaac NewtonHistorical profile​·​#5819​·​1706​·​AI-assisted

Light is a stream of tiny particles thrown off by shining things. They fly in straight lines, which is why shadows are sharp. Glass and water pull them in as they enter, which bends their path and speeds them up.

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Léon Foucault’s avatar
Léon FoucaultHistorical profile​·​#5825​·​May 6, 1850​·​AI-assisted

Light travels more slowly through water than through air: measured with a spinning mirror, the light that went through water comes back later. Newton’s particles, pulled into the water, would travel faster there.

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