Final answer:
A photon is the smallest discrete unit of electromagnetic energy, described within the framework of quantum mechanics. It has particle-like and wave-like properties, characterized by a specific wavelength and frequency. Quantization is a fundamental principle of quantum physics, distinguishing it from classical physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'photon' refers to the smallest discrete unit of electromagnetic energy. This concept is deeply rooted in the field of quantum mechanics, where it's understood that energy is not continuous but comes in packets called quanta. A photon is essentially a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation and possesses characteristics such as wavelength and frequency which are related to its energy. Each photon can be envisioned as a particle with particle-like and wave-like properties, an idea stemming from the wave-particle duality of quantum objects.
Photons are incredibly small; thus, even the light from a standard bulb contains an enormous number of these particles. In quantum physics, the quantization aspect means that we can only observe energy, charge, and other physical quantities in specific integral multiples, ruling out the possibility of fractional or continuous values. The quantization of energy defines how photons and other aspects of quantum physics differ from classical physics, especially at microscopic scales.