Which of the following statements correctly explains the wave nature of light?

• A. Light can only travel through matter and not through a vacuum.
• B. Light consists solely of particles and does not display any wave properties.
• C. Light exhibits both wavelength and frequency, and its speed in a vacuum is given by c = λν.
• D. The energy of light is independent of its frequency.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that light exhibits properties of both waves and particles, a concept known as wave-particle duality.
2. Recall that the wave nature of light is characterized by its wavelength (\( \lambda \)) and frequency (\( \nu \)), which are related to the speed of light (\( c \)) by the equation: \[ c = \lambda \times \nu \]
3. Recognize that light can travel through a vacuum, which means it does not require a medium (matter) to propagate.
4. Know that the energy of light is directly proportional to its frequency, described by the equation: \[ E = h \times \nu \] where \( h \) is Planck's constant, so energy depends on frequency, not independent of it.
5. Evaluate each statement based on these principles to identify the correct explanation of the wave nature of light.