Comment by Kranar
3 years ago
There are also tons of articles that state the opposite; that virtual particles are in fact actual particles. I don't see how either interpretation is particularly relevant. Physics uses math to model reality. Every part of that model is virtual and has some correspondence with what we experience and observe and that's all that matters at the end of the day.
The physical dress is blue and black, in spite of all the articles showing how to see it as white and gold, the articles demonstrating how in theory you could have a white and gold dress look like that given the correct lighting, and the articles saying that the distinction isn't real and that all black and blue dresses are equivalent to white and gold dresses.
> that virtual particles are in fact actual particles
I assume that means those "virtual particles" behave almost like actual particles. e.g. have a rest mass or not.
This helps lay person understand physics better.
Depends on the definition of a particle, and 'virtual particles' aren't the same as 'real' particles. As I said above it'd be a good idea to change the name, it'd stop lots of confusion.