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How does the sun's heat travel through the vacuum of space to reach the earth?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The Sun's rays are "electromagnetic radiation".
This does not need a "medium". It can travel through a vacuum.
That's different from sound waves, for example.
Sound waves need a medium to carry the vibrations
You can easily find at least two different "explanations" of this.
There are probably more. It's not very satisfactory.
These are the two commonest explanations:
1) Photons. Electromagneticradiation can sometimes be described in terms of "particles" called photons. It's easy to understand that particles can travel through a vacuum.
2) "Self generation" of the electromagnetic field:
The electric field generates an associated magnetic field which generates an electric field, and so on. The idea is that somehow this allows the wave to travel without a medium.
Up to about 130 years ago scientists still believed there should be a medium, even in "empty" space. They searched for it without success.
In modern physics theory, the medium is not required.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agobecause light has properties of both waves and particles, it does not need the medium of air to travel through, like sound does. To be sure, nobody really understands it fully.
Light is electromagnetic radiation. In fact, it moves the fastest at space, because there's no matter to interfere in its path. Electromagnetic waves, unlike normal waves, don't require a medium to move in.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoMaxwell believed that there is no vacuum, but rather an Aether medium, that transports the electromagnetic wave. I think Maxwell is right and the Aether exists.
Electrical Engineers know there is a resistance to electromagnetic waves in the vacuum, called the 'free space impedance', z=375 Ohms, this is the Aether.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIf you're looking for basic then honestly any of your typical large retailers (Walmart, Target, Office Max, Staples, etc.) would carry black furniture; being a popular "color" and all. If you're looking for a pretty significant theme for a small room or office then you may want to go to an actual furniture store as their selection would more than likely be larger.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoLight travels in a vacuum as waves of photons. They do not need a medium in which to travel.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoLight acts as a particle.
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Does light travel at 18000 miles per hour from the sun to the earth?
Light travels at 670,616,629 miles per hour from the sun to Earth (or anyplace else in a vacuum). It takes about 8 minutes 12 seconds for the light of the sun to reach Earth.
If technology allows us to travel at 500000000 kmhr through space how long would it take us to reach Neptune from Earth?
The closest distance of earth and neptune is 4.301 billion kilometers and the farthest distance of earth and neptune is 4.553 billion kilometers. So, the time to reach Neptune ranges from 8.602 hours to 9.106 hours.
How long would it take for a spaceship to reach the earth from the moon?
It took Apollo 11 three days to travel from Earth to the moon.
If you were drifting in outer space would you hear a nearby explosion?
Sound is the vibration of matter and since there is no matter in space it can't transmit the vibrations. However, if hypothetically the sound could travel through space it would reach earth in 137,000 hours, unfortunately, the light of the explosion would reach earth in about 8.5 min that is not applying Newton's law of instantaneous forces, which says that the earth would instantly be released from orbit before anything at all reached earth and this release from orbit would delay the time the light reached earth. then the actual explosion (explosive energy and matter) would reach earth in about 22 hours. so all life would be dead and the planet will have been vaporized 15 years before any "sound" reached earth.
Can visible light travel through space?
Light can travel through space. All the light that we get on the earth's surface; usually travels from the sun through space before it can reach here.
Why do light waves require a medium in which to travel?
Light waves do not require a medium through which to travel. They will travel (propagate) perfectly well in a vacuum. Otherwise, light would not pass through the vacuum of space. It would be very dark here on earth as the light from the sun, moon and stars could not reach Earth through the vacuum of space.
Why can't we hear nuclear explosions from the sun?
We cannot hear the explosions from the sun as sound cannot travel through a vacuum, and the sound would have to travel through one to reach the Earth.
Can electormagnetic waves travel through a vacuum?
Did you ever see light from the Sun? Light is an electromagnetic wave, and it travels through a vacuum to reach us.
What speed do these waves travel through a vacuum?
depends on what wave where you are however if you are on about space it wont travel because of low presser meaning no air force. but on earth sond waves can reach 100000 km
What evidence do we have that light travel through a vacuum?
You create a vacuum in a lab, and then shine a light through it, and there is experimental proof that light travels through a vacuum. Alternatively, take the fact that light travels through space - if light could not travel through a vacuum, no light from the stars, the moon or the sun would ever reach our planet.
What do light rays need to travel through space?
If light rays did not travel through space there would be no way for them to reach Earth.
Does light travel through space?
Of course it travels.Then how do you expect light to reach the earth from he sun!
Can light travel through space?
Light can travel through space. All the light that we get on the earth's surface; usually travels from the sun through space before it can reach here.
Can you hear the International Space Station pass overhead if all everything else around is still and quite?
Sound needs a volume to travel in. Space happens to be a vacuum, so said volume is not there. Sound cannot travel in space because of this. If sound cannot travel through space, it is not going to reach Earth. So, no.
Can secondary waves travel through the center of the earth?
No, because to reach the center of the Earth, they need to pass through the outer core. Secondary waves, or S-waves, can't pass through liquids, such as the liquid outer core, so they can't thus even reach the center of the Earth.
Does light travel at 18000 miles per hour from the sun to the earth?
Light travels at 670,616,629 miles per hour from the sun to Earth (or anyplace else in a vacuum). It takes about 8 minutes 12 seconds for the light of the sun to reach Earth.
How does the energy from the sun reach the earth?
Waves of heat and light, called radiation, travel to earth.
