An analogy used in science:
"It is easy to see that the failure of the notion of a light ray in application to the optical diffraction phenomena is very similar to the failure of the notion of a mechanical trajectory in the phenomena of quantum physics. Just as we cannot form in optics an infinitely thin light beam, the quantum principles of mechanics prevent us from speaking about the infinitely thin trajectories of moving particles. In both cases we have to give up all attempts to describe the phenomena by saying something (light or particles) propagates along certain mathematical lines (optical rays or mechanical trajectories), and are forced to go over to the presentation of the observed phenomena by means of 'something' which is spread continuously over the entire space."
George Gamow (1961) One, Two, Three…Infinity. Facts and speculations of science, Revised Edition, Dover Publications, Inc., New York.
Read examples of scientific analogies
Many examples of science analogies are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.
