Question

Although we can know with great precision the pattern formed by huge numbers of photons passing through the lines on a diffraction grating, we cannot know at all where one single photon will go when it passes through the diffraction grating.
This statement describes the truth revealed by what theory?

• A. Universal gravitation
• B. Chaos theory
• C. Relativity
• D. Quantum theory
• E. Group theory

Answer 1

The correct option is D Quantum theory

According to quantum theory of light, light has dual nature, it acts as a wave in case of diffraction of waves.

But light also acts as a particle. It is made up of quanta called photons. Each photon when falls on a material, it ejects one electron with energy $E=h\nu$

So, because of wave nature of light we can see the diffraction pattern formed by light but because of particle nature of light, where one single photon goes as it passes through diffraction grating cannot be determined.