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Is light a particle or a wave? - Colm Kelleher

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Can we accurately describe light as exclusively a wave or just a particle? Are the two mutually exclusive? In this third part of his series on light and color, Colm Kelleher discusses wave-particle duality and its relationship to how we see light and, therefore, color.

Colm says, "Even geniuses sometimes get things wrong." What other major scientific principles did scientists get wrong for centuries and centuries? When were these principles correctly proven?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Colm Kelleher
  • Artist Cynthea Mazur Diaz
  • Director Nelson Diaz
  • Narrator Colm Kelleher

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