What distinguishes waves from particles?

Waves are distinguished from particles by the fact that they possess both speed and wavelength components, which are fundamental characteristics of wave motion. In wave phenomena, the speed refers to how fast the wave is moving through a medium, while the wavelength is the distance between consecutive points in phase on the wave, often associated with the wave's periodic nature.

Waves, unlike particles, do not have a clearly defined position or mass; instead, they are described by their oscillatory nature and can spread out over a larger area. This oscillatory behavior allows waves to exhibit properties like interference and diffraction, which are not applicable to particles.

In contrast to this, while particles can carry energy (for example, through kinetic energy), they do not have the inherent wave properties such as speed and wavelength that define wave mechanics. Hence, the distinguishing features that allow us to classify something as a wave stem from its wave properties, making the presence of speed and wavelength crucial in differentiating them from particles.