Question

Light can travel through a vacuum, as is evidenced when you see the sun or the moon. Can sound travel through a vacuum also? Explain why or why not.

Answer 1

Sound waves are mechanical waves and require a medium to propagate, while light waves are electromagnetic waves and do not require a medium. Therefore, sound cannot travel through a vacuum, but light can.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sound waves are mechanical waves and require a medium to propagate. On the other hand, light waves are electromagnetic waves and do not require a medium to propagate. This is why sound cannot travel through a vacuum, but light can. For sound to travel, it needs a medium like air, water, or solid material to propagate through. The vibration of air molecules or other substances creates pressure waves, which our ears detect as sound. Since a vacuum is empty space without any particles to vibrate, sound cannot travel through it.