Electron vs. Photon — What's the Difference?

Exhibits wave-particle duality.

Quantum of light.

Participant in chemical reactions.

Carrier of electromagnetic force.

Subatomic particle.

Massless particle.

Carrier of charge.

Exhibits wave-particle duality.

Influenced by fields.

Energy carrier.

The electron is a subatomic particle, symbol e− or β−, whose electric charge is negative one elementary charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no known components or substructure.

The photon (Greek: φῶς, phōs, light) is a type of elementary particle. It is the quantum of the electromagnetic field including electromagnetic radiation such as light and radio waves, and the force carrier for the electromagnetic force.

A stable elementary particle in the lepton class having a negative electric charge of 1 elementary unit (about 1.602 × 10-19 coulombs) and a mass of about 9.11 × 10-28 grams. Electrons are found in shells orbiting the nuclei of atoms and can also move freely through space as cathode rays in a cathode-ray tube or as beta particles emitted by radioactive nuclei, or flow in a current through a conducting material impelled by an electric potential difference.

The elementary particle of light and other electromagnetic radiation; the quantum of electromagnetic energy. The photon is the massless, neutral vector boson that mediates electromagnetic interactions.

(particle) The subatomic particle having a negative charge and orbiting the nucleus; the flow of electrons in a conductor constitutes electricity.

(particle) The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. It is a gauge boson.

Alloys of magnesium and other metals, like aluminum or zinc, that were manufactured by the German company Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron.

A quantum of electromagnetic radiation; an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle

Amber; also, the alloy of gold and silver, called electrum.

One of the fundamental subatomic particles, having a negative charge and about one thousandth the mass of a hydrogen atom. The electron carries (or is) a natural unit of negative electricity, equal to 3.4 x 10-10 electrostatic units, and is classed by physicists as a lepton. Its mass is practically constant at the lesser speeds, but increases due to relativistic effects as the velocity approaches that of light. Electrons are all of one kind, so far as is known. Thus far, no structure has been detected within an electron, and it is probably one of the ultimate composite constituents of all matter. An atom or group of atoms from which an electron has been detached has a positive charge and is called a cation. Electrons are projected from the cathode of vacuum tubes (including television picture tubes) as cathode rays and from radioactive substances as the beta rays. Previously also referred to as corpuscle, an obsolete term. The motion of electrons through metallic conductors is observed as an electric current. A particle identical to the electron in mass and most other respects, but having a positive instead of a negative charge, is called a positron, or antielectron

An elementary particle with negative charge

Yes, electrons have a small but finite mass.

Electrons interact with matter through electromagnetic forces, participating in chemical reactions and electricity.

Photons are crucial in optics, telecommunications, and quantum computing.

An electron is a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Yes, photons are massless particles.

Yes, electrons are fundamental to technologies such as electricity generation and electronics.

A photon is a quantum of light and the carrier of electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths.

Photons interact with matter by being absorbed or emitted, transferring energy in the process.

No, electrons do not move at the speed of light; their speed varies depending on energy.

Yes, photons also exhibit wave-particle duality.

An electron's energy is determined by its kinetic, potential, and rest mass energy.

Both electrons and photons exhibit wave-particle duality, playing fundamental roles in physics.

Yes, electrons exhibit wave-particle duality, showing both particle and wave-like behaviors.

Photons always travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.

The energy of a photon is determined by its frequency, following the Planck-Einstein relation.