• PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Ok so a wave is the physical expression of energy transferring through a medium

    Ocean waves are kinetic energy transferring from water molecule to water molecule, sound is high frequency waves moving through a transmissible medium in a way we can perceive as noise, etcetera.

    “Light is a wave and a particle” refers to the fact that since photons travel in a probability wave until perceived, they are capable of being their own medium for electromagnetic energy.

    This is why light can travel in a vacuum where other wave based phenomenon cannot, light comes with its own medium to travel through the void with.

    • ssboomman@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      This kinda falls apart once you realize that all small particles (atoms, electrons, molecules, etc) have wave particle duality.

      • PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Yes but its the best “in English please” explanation I can come up with.

        Otherwise we’re going to have to start talking about the non-zero odds a beautiful woman is going to materialize and accept the second ice cream cone and nobody has the time for that outside of a laboratory or lecture hall.

      • PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        No, that is the separate medium, I’m talking about the photon being both the medium and the energy the medium is carrying.