Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Lucille J on 23/05/2011 17:01:02

Title: What types of waves cannot travel through a vacuum?
Post by: Lucille J on 23/05/2011 17:01:02

Lucille J asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Which one of the following waves cannot travel through a vacuum:  sound waves, radio waves, light waves, x-rays

What do you think?

Title: What types of waves cannot travel through a vacuum?
Post by: CZARCAR on 23/05/2011 17:04:41

sound waves?

Title: What types of waves cannot travel through a vacuum?
Post by: CliffordK on 23/05/2011 19:32:18

Yes...
Sound waves require a medium (air/water/solid/etc).

Radio waves, light waves, x-rays are all EM waves, and travel fastest in a vacuum.

Title: What types of waves cannot travel through a vacuum?
Post by: yor_on on 26/05/2011 20:35:11

Well, there is something called the sound imprint of the Big Bang in the sky if I remember right :) The Cosmic Sound. (http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~george/ay21/readings/Cosmic_Sound.pdf)

Was this a 'trick question'?