Sound · Class 9 · CBSE Science
Why can sound waves not travel through a vacuum?
Practice question from Sound (Class 9 · CBSE Science), with the correct answer and a step-by-step solution.
medium · Subjective · Q-385563
Why can sound waves not travel through a vacuum?
Answer: Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a material medium (such as solid, liquid, or gas) for its propagation. In a vacuum, there are no particles to vibrate and transfer the mechanical energy from one point to another, which makes the transmission of sound impossible.
Solution
Sound needs a medium like air, water, or steel to travel because it propagates through the vibration of particles. Since a vacuum is completely devoid of matter, no particles are available to carry the wave.
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