Which waves travel through a medium?

Answer 1

We know that a mechanical wave requires a medium through which to travel. The source puts the energy into the medium, and it propagates. A sound wave is a good example of this, and we can contrast it with an electromagnetic wave (like light). Light can travel through a vacuum; it doesn't require a medium for its propagation.

Answer 2

A mechanical wave is one that travels through a medium. It requires the medium for propagation, as the mechanical energy is put into the medium, and the medium carries it. Sound is a form of mechanical energy. In contrast, light is a form of electromagnetic energy, and it can travel through a vacuum, unlike a mechanical wave.
mechanical wave.

Answer 3

Sound waves travel through gas (including air).

According to present mainstream physics there is no 'medium' that light (em waves) travels through as that would create a '3rd/preferred frame/ether', which would seem to confound 'Special Relativity's' solution to the speed of light being constant for all observers whatever their motion. Although Einstein did say "space without ether is unthinkable" (Leiden 1921).

There is of course a 'quantum field' of space, indeed many, including, supposedly, the 'Higgs field' which allows massive particles to condense from it, as they do. It is at 2.7 degrees and constitutes 73% of the universe. (WMAP etc.)

Constant light speed is best explained by particles (in plasma or gas fine structures) refracting light (atomic scattering), re-emitting it at 'c' locally.

This is not however expected to make it into text books until around 20-20.

Answer 4

Different types of waves (sound waves, electromagnetic waves, water waves, etc.) travel by different methods. It can be a sequence of collisions, each colliding particle carrying the wave forward to the next collision, or it can be a matter of force fields that vary in a sine-wave pattern due to the motion of the particle that generates them, or it can be an oscillation due to gravity, etc.

Answer 5

Mechanical waves, such as sound waves and water waves, travel through a medium by transferring energy through the vibration of particles in the medium. Electromagnetic waves, on the other hand, can travel through a vacuum because they do not require a medium for propagation.

Answer 6

Mechanical waves, such as sound waves travel through a medium. They cannot travel through a vacuum.