How do photon particles travel through glass?

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Been studying science in college for about 2 years and this simple question has me questioning my own IQ. I understand how light travels through different mediums but photons are particles right? Actually physical particles that can travel through solid blocks of glass?

I dont know if Im just stupid or my teacher doesnt care, this question could keep me up at night.

In: Physics

9 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

You’ve got 2 misapprehensions here. First, photons are not just particles. They are vibrations in the everywhere-permeating electromagnetic field. Second, on the scale of photons, glass is far from solid. Depending on your interpretation of quantum mechanics, the photon might not see electrons as clouds of probability density, but as point particles separated by real distances. Empty voids that they can pass through.

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