Photons
In this lecture we hope to convince you all that both
Hooke and Newton had valid hypothesis.
Based on recent discoveries and their original
experiments we can confirm that both had key roles in
the development of knowledge about light.
In their lifetimes both disputed the other’s theories and
conclusions. However today we can make our own
conclusions based on both of their theories.
Newton: Light is composed of particles.
(Corpuscular)
+
Hooke: Light is composed of waves.
(Undulating)
=
Dual Nature of Light.
Newton: White light is composed of other colours.
+
Hooke: White is a fundamental colour. Other colours are
only an effect of disturbance.
(Red and Blue light have different speeds.)
=
Complete theory of dispersion.
Newton: Light is composed of particles: receptors in eyes
vibrate.
+
Hooke: Light is produced by an “exceedingly quick”
vibration of the material.
=
Light vibrates: travels across
vacuum and materials.
 By looking at the work of both Robert Hooke and Isaac
Newton it is possible to have a greater understanding
of the topic of light.
 Their experiments were made in different contexts and
with different variables.
 As a result we believe in both theories. If you take a
laser there is no wave. Make a hole in paper, smaller
than the laser beam, the laser will travel in the same
way through the paper(smaller beam).
 With a lamp and two holes, the light will travel
through in the same way but with an interference. This
proves that light is a wave.
 Newton: I think that Newton’s theory of light is correct because
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of the fact that when you put white light through a prism it
divides into seven colours and when you put another prism at
one of the colours it doesn’t change.
Hooke: white light is uncompounded and colours are produced
when white light is disturbed by refraction. it is only the
impression of our retina.
Newton: Your explanation is incorrect because light is a vibration
of the sensors on your retina.
Hooke: In is not the retina but the material which the light
passes through which vibrates.
Newton: How do you explain the stright line movement of the
particles?
Hooke: It is a short quick vibration (waves) rather than particles.
Newton: Perhaps we both have correct ideas, we should
collaborate to find out more.
We believe that
light particles
move in waves