Distinguish between a photon and quantum.
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Photon:
A photon can be defined as quantum of energy. It is an elementary particle.
Elementary particle is a particle that does not have a substructure.
Elementary particles are the building blocks of the universe from which all other particles are made.
The photon is the quantum of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. radio, light,x-rays, gamma rays) or the basic unit of light.
Quantum :
Quantum can be described as measure of quantity.
Quantum is considered to be a discrete packet with energy stored in them.
A quantum is a unit in which waves are absorbed or emitted. Quanta are the smallest units of something allowed.
In short, its just a smallest, indivisible, discrete piece of anything.
Difference :
A photon has the properties of both wave like and particle like, but quantum does not.
Quantum can be described as a measure of quantity, but a photon is not about a measure of quantity.
WHY ??? Because…
A photon can be defined as a quantum of energy / light.
We think of light as being continuous, almost like a fluid, in our everyday experience, but on small enough scales, light can be thought of as particles.
On those scales, there's no such thing as "less light" coming from something. It either gives off 1 photon, or it gives off no photons, but there is no in between.
A photon is a quantum but not all quanta are photons.
A photon can be defined as quantum of energy. It is an elementary particle.
Elementary particle is a particle that does not have a substructure.
Elementary particles are the building blocks of the universe from which all other particles are made.
The photon is the quantum of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. radio, light,x-rays, gamma rays) or the basic unit of light.
Quantum :
Quantum can be described as measure of quantity.
Quantum is considered to be a discrete packet with energy stored in them.
A quantum is a unit in which waves are absorbed or emitted. Quanta are the smallest units of something allowed.
In short, its just a smallest, indivisible, discrete piece of anything.
Difference :
A photon has the properties of both wave like and particle like, but quantum does not.
Quantum can be described as a measure of quantity, but a photon is not about a measure of quantity.
WHY ??? Because…
A photon can be defined as a quantum of energy / light.
We think of light as being continuous, almost like a fluid, in our everyday experience, but on small enough scales, light can be thought of as particles.
On those scales, there's no such thing as "less light" coming from something. It either gives off 1 photon, or it gives off no photons, but there is no in between.
A photon is a quantum but not all quanta are photons.
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