Question

Two astronauts are in outer space; hank is inside the space shuttle & the other, sally, is on a space walk. A large meteor hits the space shuttle, but only one of the two astronauts are able to hear it. Which astronaut is able to hear the impact & which isn’t. Explain why. Be sure to include the terms: medium and transfer in your explanation.

Answer 1

Sally would not be able to hear the impact of the meteor because sound waves cannot travel through the vacuum of outer space. In order for sound to be heard, it must vibrate through a medium such as air, water, or solid matter. Since there is no air or other medium in outer space, sound waves cannot transfer through it and cannot be heard. Hank, on the other hand, would be able to hear the impact of the meteor because he is inside the space shuttle, which provides a solid medium for the sound waves to vibrate through and be transferred to his ear drums.