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Why can light waves travel through a vacuum but water waves cannot?
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
That is correct. Light is a moving electromagnetic wave, and the energy it contains is carried in the moving electric and moving magnetic components of the wave. Light can move through a vacuum, and it would rather go through that than air or anything else (which scatters the energy). Sound is mechanical energy, and the energy of the sound is transferred into the medium through which it is travelling. As the energy of sound is carried by the medium, the vacuum of space will not support a sound wave.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoLight has substance it's smallest unit is a photon sound on the other hand is produced when molecules or atoms are agitated or vibrated. In space there is a vacuum if there are no molecules or atoms to agitate or vibrate no sound is produced.
Or
Sound is the movement or agitation of air. There is no air in space, so no sound.
Or
Light consists of crossed electric and magnetic fields which do not require a material medium in which to propagate. Sound, on the other hand, consists of compression waves in material mediums. Since outer space has very little matter, sound waves can't propagate there.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoWater waves require water - almost by definition, since that's what "water wave" is about - energy traveling through water.Electromagnetic waves - that includes light - are electric and magnetic waves, and those can travel through empty space as well as some other materials.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoBecause sound waves are waves in material media, but light waves are not.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agosound waves are vibrations that travel though air. Light is a spectrum of colours this means that light can go through a vacuum but sound cant Wazzupp Niggaaaa!!!!!
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoBecause sound waves are waves in material media, but light waves are not.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoWater waves need water.
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Is light an example of mechanical wave?
No. Light is an example of an electromagnetic wave, which can travel through a vacuum. Mechanical waves must travel through a medium, and cannot travel through a vacuum.
Light can travel through a vacuum as is evidenced when you see the sun or the moon. Can sound travel through a vacuum also?
No, sounds cannot travel through a vacuum. This is because sound requires a medium to travel through because it requires the vibration of particles to travel and there need to be particles to vibrate for it to travel through.
Is vacuum a medium of light?
Light can travel through vacuum, but it is not a medium.
Can light travel in a vacuum?
Yes. Light waves are electromagnetic waves, which do not require a medium to travel through.Mechanical waves (such as sound) do require a medium to travel through, so sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum.Space is a vacuum. The light from the stars (including our own sun) travel across a great distance in a vacuum to get to us.The accepted speed of light is its speed in a vacuum, which is 299,792,458 m/s.
Is it possible for heat to flow across a vacuum?
Heat needs something to "flow" through. In a vacuum it will not have a medium to travel through and so heat cannot flow across a vacuum. Radiant heat will travel through a vacuum but here it is the light energy that is passing through the vacuum, not the heat energy.
Is light an example of mechanical wave?
No. Light is an example of an electromagnetic wave, which can travel through a vacuum. Mechanical waves must travel through a medium, and cannot travel through a vacuum.
Why doesn't light travel through a vacuum?
Light does travel through a vacuum.
Light can travel through a vacuum as is evidenced when you see the sun or the moon. Can sound travel through a vacuum also?
No, sounds cannot travel through a vacuum. This is because sound requires a medium to travel through because it requires the vibration of particles to travel and there need to be particles to vibrate for it to travel through.
Can gases travel through a vacuum?
No. Only light waves can travel through a vacuum.
What can light travel through that sound cannot?
The answer is nothing, also commonly and incorrectly known as a vacuum
Is vacuum a medium of light?
Light can travel through vacuum, but it is not a medium.
Can light travel in a vacuum?
Yes. Light waves are electromagnetic waves, which do not require a medium to travel through.Mechanical waves (such as sound) do require a medium to travel through, so sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum.Space is a vacuum. The light from the stars (including our own sun) travel across a great distance in a vacuum to get to us.The accepted speed of light is its speed in a vacuum, which is 299,792,458 m/s.
Is it possible for heat to flow across a vacuum?
Heat needs something to "flow" through. In a vacuum it will not have a medium to travel through and so heat cannot flow across a vacuum. Radiant heat will travel through a vacuum but here it is the light energy that is passing through the vacuum, not the heat energy.
Light can travel to Earth from a distant star but sound cannot Why is this?
Sound can only travel through air or water, not through a vacuum, it works in stronger waves than light.
Which wave would travel fastest in a vacuum light or sound?
Sound cannot go through vaccum
What can light travel through that sound cant travel through?
light can travel through a vacuum whereas sound cant
What does sound go faster through a vacuum or a solid?
Sound does not travel in a vacuum. It needs a medium in which to travel (unlike light) and so sound cannot travel in a vacuum. However, in a solid sound travels faster than in air.
