Question

The dual nature of wave states that all matter has properties of:

• A. both a particle and a wave.
• B. neither a particle nor a wave.
• C. just a particle and not a wave.
• D. just a wave and not a particle.
• E. either a particle or a wave.

Answer 1

The correct option is A both a particle and a wave.

From the experiments of Photoelectric effect and Young's Double Slit Experiment(YDSE), dual nature of wave was established.

Remember: de Broglie's wavelength equation $\lambda =\frac{h}{p}$ where $h$ is Planck's constant and $p$ is the momentum.

We can infer from this equation that

• as $p$ increases $\lambda$ decreases $⟶$ property of particles
  
• as $p$ decreases $\lambda$ increases $⟶$ property of waves
  

We can also deduce that as mass of particles increases so does its momentum $\Rightarrow \lambda$ decreases

and as mass of particles decreases so does its momentum $\Rightarrow \lambda$ increases

Hence all matter has properties of both waves and particles.