Question

I don't know how to answer this question, can someone pls help?

- Explain how a wave can transmit energy to a medium without transporting matter.

Thank you for your time!

Answer 1

Consider the energy the earth receives from the sun. The electromagnetic waves travel thru empty space until they interact with some medium surrounding the earth: ozone, atmosphere, solids, etc.

This is contrasted to longitudinal waves such as sound waves which can only travel thru the medium with which they interact.