Scientific Secrets of Jainism

Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

Page 56

Light : Waves Or Particles ?
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is the energy of photon, h is Planck's constant and
E = hv, where 'y' is a frequency.
WAVES : What are waves and how are they created ? If we ponder on this question with a penetrating intellect, it seems more proper to accept the particle form than the wave form of light and sound. Generally waves are created through some definite medium but they are not created without medium. In science, generally speaking, there are four kinds of waves :
1. Mechanical Waves : Mechanical waves are waves travelling in an elastic medium with participation of particles of the medium. The propagation of such waves is due to the elastic property of the medium e.g. waves on string, sound waves moving in air.
2. Non-Mechanical waves : Non-mechanical waves of light require no medium for their propagation. The disturbances corresponding to the electric and magnetic fields travel in space. Instead of particles, the electric and magnetic field vectors at all points make oscillations. Hence these waves are called electromagnetic waves.
3. Transverse Waves : The waves in which the direction of displacement of particles of the medium, is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the waves, are called transverse waves. In these waves the highest points on shapes bulging out on the upper side are called crests and those on bulging out on the lower side are called troughs. The light waves are transverse waves.
4. Longitudinal waves : The waves in which the direction of displacement of particles of the medium is along the direction of propagation of waves are called longitudinal waves. e.g. Sound waves travelling in air or any other media.
The particles of the fundamental medium of waves can move upwards and downwards in their own definite place but they cannot go from one point to another point of the same medium. In this way they impart kinetic energy to the nearest particles. So it is believed that conduction of energy takes place. But according to Jain philosophical contention no conduction takes place here but, really speaking minute particles move in light waves, sound waves and electromagnetic waves.
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