Theories about the Nature of Light
1. According to Isaac Newton
On his Corpuscular Theory of light - light is made up of particles that travel through space on a straight line.
2. According to Christian Huygens
Light is made up of waves similar to that of water waves. This is called the wave theory of light.
3. According to James Clerk Maxwell Light is that small part of the electromagnetic spectrum which affects our vision. Light is propagated in space as electromagnetic waves. This is known as electromagnetic wave theory of light.
4. The Quantum Theory was proposed by Max Planck in 1900 and advanced by Albert Einstein in 1905. This theory assumes that light is radiated in discrete packets or bundles of energy called photons, which also exhibit wave characteristics.
These youtube videos will also help you review our discussion on the nature of light. Enjoy and learn! (videos courtesy of derek owens)
