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.

[–] SickPanda@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

light can be glad there is no space police. That's illegal.

[–] ssboomman@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 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.

[–] Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

This medium you're talking about is called "aether" and was disproven in 1887.

[–] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 2 points 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.