Physics
Complementarity Principle
Quick fact
In quantum physics, particles such as electrons behave like waves when unobserved but act like particles when measured.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered why light can act like both a wave and a particle? This mystery is solved by the complementarity principle.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Complementarity Principle
The complementarity principle says that objects in quantum mechanics have multiple 'sides'—like a coin. When you look at them through one lens (say, as waves), they don’t show their other side (as particles) at the same time. It’s not about being two things at once, but about how we observe them.
A deeper explanation
The complementarity principle, introduced by Niels Bohr, explains that quantum entities such as light or electrons cannot be described by a single model; they must be viewed through multiple complementary perspectives. This is crucial because it highlights the limits of classical physics and how observations in quantum mechanics fundamentally shape our understanding of reality.