Are Physical Waves Real Objects?

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The discussion centers on whether physical waves, such as sound and water waves, can be considered real physical objects independent of the medium through which they travel. Participants explore the nature of waves, noting that sound waves are compression waves and water waves are transverse waves, involving molecular movement. The inquiry raises questions about the existence of waves in a vacuum, where no medium is present. Ultimately, the conversation leads to a conclusion that the topic may not yield productive insights, resulting in the thread being closed. The nature of physical waves remains a debated concept in physics.
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Are physical waves, like sound waves, or water waves, real physical objects like matter?
 
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They are a predicate of the subject matter. Sound waves are compression waves. Water waves are transverse waves. Both/each have molecules translating from their relaxed positions.
 
Doug Huffman said:
They are a predicate of the subject matter. Sound waves are compression waves. Water waves are transverse waves. Both/each have molecules translating from their relaxed positions.
But I am asking if the wave it self is a physical object, not the medium they travel through
 
For example, if i completely emptied a room and took out all the atoms and molecules in there, and then played a noise in the room, would the sound wave itself be physical?
 
Learn predicate(subject). What do you think is "noise"?
 
Doug Huffman said:
Learn predicate(subject). What do you think is "noise"?
Are you stating that physical waves are really physical or not? I'm specifically concerning the wave and not the medium which it travels through.
 

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