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Why do some waves travel in a vaccuum while others can travel only through a medium?
Electromagnetic waves, like light, can travel through a vacuum because they do not require a medium to propagate. However, mechanical waves, like sound waves, need a medium, such as air or water, to transfer energy. This is because mechanical waves rely on the vibration of particles in the medium to transmit the wave.
What else can I help you with?
Sound cannot travel through what?
Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because it requires a medium, such as air or water, to propagate. In the absence of a medium, there are no particles for the sound waves to travel through, so they cannot be transmitted.
Do radio waves need a medium to travel through?
No, radio waves do not need a medium to travel through. They are a type of electromagnetic wave that can travel through a vacuum, such as space. They can also travel through other mediums, such as air or water.
When waves travel through a medium they carry the medium with them is this true or false?
False. Waves do not carry the medium with them as they travel through it. Instead, they transfer energy through the medium without permanently displacing the particles of the medium.
Does transverse wave require a medium to travel through?
Yes, transverse waves require a medium to travel through. Examples include water waves, which need water as a medium, and electromagnetic waves such as light, which can travel through a vacuum.
Is vacuum a medium of light?
Light can travel through vacuum, but it is not a medium.
Why cant sound waves travel through a vaccuum?
No medium to carry the sound energy.
Why does sound not travel through space?
Sound does move through space. It doesn't move though empty space, i.e. a vaccuum. In outer space there is a vaccuum (though not necessarily a perfect vaccuum).Sound is caused by vibrations in a medium such as air (or water or wood). These vibrations compress and rarefy the medium. The vibrations move through the medium as waves.In a vaccuum, there is no medium thus there is no sound.
Sound cannot travel through what?
Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because it requires a medium, such as air or water, to propagate. In the absence of a medium, there are no particles for the sound waves to travel through, so they cannot be transmitted.
Which waves cannot travel through a vaccuum?
Sound waves.
Can a light travel through a vacuum?
Yes. Refer to stars - space is a vaccuum (though not a perfect vaccuum) and because light can travel through a vaccuum, we have day and night here on Earth. We can even see light from other stars light years away.
Does light have a medium to travel through?
No, apart from "spacetime". But it CAN travel through a medium such as air or glass.
Why cant sound travel through outer space?
Sounds requires a medium to travel through. An example is air. You've also heard sound travel through water and solid objects like wood. In the past it was often thought that no medium exists in space. However, in current astronomy and astrophysics it is thought that dark matter is the medium by which sound can and does travel about space. Due to the atoms being so spread out though, the human ear would not be capable of detecting the sound waves. For more information check out: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mystery_monday_030922.html
Do radio waves need a medium to travel through?
No, radio waves do not need a medium to travel through. They are a type of electromagnetic wave that can travel through a vacuum, such as space. They can also travel through other mediums, such as air or water.
What is the difference between mechanical and electromagnetic waves with regard to travel?
Mechanical waves need some kind of material to transmit through. They involve the shaking and passing of energy through matter. Electromagnetic waves don't need a medium to travel through. Outer space is considered a vaccuum, there is no matter to shake back and forth to create a wave. This is why electromagnetic waves can travel through solids, liquids, and why they travel faster.
When waves travel through a medium they carry the medium with them is this true or false?
False. Waves do not carry the medium with them as they travel through it. Instead, they transfer energy through the medium without permanently displacing the particles of the medium.
What needs a medium substance to travel through?
Mechanical waves need a medium substance to travel through. Electromagnetic do not.
What can travel through space without a(n) medium?
Electromagnetic waves can travel through space without a medium.
