Final answer:
Sound waves require a medium to propagate and move parallel to the wave motion, while light waves can travel through a vacuum and are electromagnetic waves that do not need a medium. The correct comparison between the two is that sound is mechanical and needs a medium, while light is electromagnetic and does not.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement that compares sound and light waves is: Sound waves are mechanical waves and require a medium to propagate, whereas light waves can travel through a vacuum. Sound waves transfer energy through the oscillation of particles in a medium such as air, water, or a solid structure, and they propagate parallel to the direction of the wave. On the other hand, light waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation and can move through empty space, without a medium, because the electric and magnetic fields sustain each other.
Based on this understanding, the correct choice from the provided options is (a): Both light and sound waves need matter to carry energy from one place to another. This statement is not entirely accurate, as only sound requires matter for its propagation, while light does not. Therefore, the exact correction would be, sound waves require a medium to propagate, unlike light waves which can travel through a vacuum.