Photon
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photons (from Greek φως, meaning light), in many atomic models in physics, are particles which transmit light. In other words, light is carried over space by photons.
Photons have a rest mass 0 (zero). They have mass because of Einstein's theory of relativity. At the speed of light photons do have certain mass.
A photon is usually given the symbol γ (gamma),
[edit] Properties
Photons are fundamental particles. Although they can be created and destroyed, their lifetime is infinite. As photons have energy, they are affected by gravity.
In a vacuum, all photons move at the speed of light, c, which is equal to 299,792,458 meters (approximately 300,000 kilometers) per second.
[edit] See also
- Particle physics
- List of particles
