How do photons carry electromagnetic force?
1 Answer
Dec 30, 2015
This is a question I always found difficilt and confusing...so I hope not to confuse you!
Explanation:
You may think of a photon as a "wavicle", i.e., a representative of electromagnetic radiation (basically, light) that can be seen as a wave or a particle.
Now think of this EM radiation as a wave represented as a propagating perturbation of the electric and magnetic field:
Now think of placing a charged particle on the path of EM radiation; the particle will "feel" the chaning fields and experience an electromagnetic force (I used to call it Lorentz Force) that will possibly change its position in space.
So, basically, your photon of light, considered in wave form, will "carry" EM force through space.
Hope it helps!
