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Sound wave is a mechanical wave. It means that, for propagation, it badly needs a material medium.

But, light waves are not mechanical waves. They are electromagnetic waves. It does not need a material medium. It can pass even through vacuum.

Sound wave is longitudinal in nature where as light waves are transverse in nature.

Being transverse, light can be polarized. But, sound waves being longitudinal cannot be polarized.

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What is the difference between light and sound?

Light and sound are both forms of energy, but they travel in different ways. Light travels in straight lines as electromagnetic waves, while sound travels as mechanical waves through a medium like air or water. Light can travel through a vacuum, but sound needs a medium to propagate. Additionally, light travels much faster than sound, with a speed of about 186,282 miles per second in a vacuum, while sound travels at a speed of about 1,125 feet per second in air.


How can YOU tell from the thunderstorm that sound waves and light waves travel at different speeds?

You can tell that sound waves and light waves travel at different speeds during a thunderstorm by observing the delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. Light travels much faster than sound, so the lightning is seen almost instantly while the thunder takes longer to reach you. This delay in the arrival of sound waves compared to light waves demonstrates their different speeds of travel.


What distance does light travel in vaccume when sound travels 1100 feet in air?

That's aproximately the distance sound travels in one second, in air. Since light travels at a speed of 300,000 kilometers per second, the answer is, approximately 300,000 kilometers.


What does the light travel faster than the sound?

Light travels faster than sound because it does not require a medium to travel through, whereas sound does. Light travels through the vacuum of space at a speed of approximately 186,000 miles per second, while sound travels through air at a much slower speed of about 1,125 feet per second.


Which travels most slowly sound or ripples on water or light?

Light travels more quickly than sound or ripples on water. Sound typically travels at around 343 meters per second in air, while ripples on water travel at lower speeds depending on factors like the depth and temperature of the water. Light travels much faster, at approximately 299,792 kilometers per second in a vacuum.

Related Questions

Can light travel as fast as sound?

no from what i have learned light travels faster then sound


What is the difference between light and sound?

Light and sound are both forms of energy, but they travel in different ways. Light travels in straight lines as electromagnetic waves, while sound travels as mechanical waves through a medium like air or water. Light can travel through a vacuum, but sound needs a medium to propagate. Additionally, light travels much faster than sound, with a speed of about 186,282 miles per second in a vacuum, while sound travels at a speed of about 1,125 feet per second in air.


Which travels sound or light?

Both light and sound travel. Light travels the fastest.


Does light travel at half the speed of sound?

No. Light travels at about 875 thousand times the speed of sound.


How can YOU tell from the thunderstorm that sound waves and light waves travel at different speeds?

You can tell that sound waves and light waves travel at different speeds during a thunderstorm by observing the delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. Light travels much faster than sound, so the lightning is seen almost instantly while the thunder takes longer to reach you. This delay in the arrival of sound waves compared to light waves demonstrates their different speeds of travel.


Does sound or light travel faster through water?

Light travels much faster than sound, through wood.


What also travels as a wave?

Light and sound travel in waves as do microwaves.


Which travels further sound or light?

Depends on what it is meant to travel through.


Does speed of sound travel faster than light waves through different mediums?

No. Sound travels slowly like a turtle, while light zips along like a rabbit.


How does light travel witch is faster light or sound?

Light is much faster then the speed of sound. Sound travels at a speed of about 768 Miles per hour, when light travels at a speed of 186,282 miles per SECOND.


When does sound travel on the speed with light?

Sound travels, in air, at about 320 meters per second. Light travels about 300 000 000 meters per second


Does light travels the same way as sound?

No. Light can't travel through solid brick, steel etc, but sound can.