Light can travel in vacuum whereas sound can not do so. Why?

Options

A. speed of sound is vertymuch slower than light
B. light waves are electromagnetic in nature
C. sound waves are electromagnetic in nature
D. light waves are not electromagnetic in nature

Answer

To understand why light can travel in a vacuum while sound cannot, we need to analyze the nature of both light and sound waves.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Nature of Waves**:
- Light is classified as electromagnetic waves.
- Sound is classified as mechanical waves.

2. **Propagation Requirements**:
- Electromagnetic waves (like light) do not require a medium to propagate; they can travel through a vacuum.
- Mechanical waves (like sound) require a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate. Without a medium, sound cannot travel.

3. **Understanding Wave Speed**:
- The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately \(3 \times 10^8\) m/s, which is significantly faster than the speed of sound in air (approximately 343 m/s).
- However, the difference in speed does not determine whether a wave can travel through a vacuum or not. It is the nature of the wave that is crucial.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since light waves are electromagnetic and can travel through a vacuum, while sound waves are mechanical and require a medium, this explains why light can travel in a vacuum and sound cannot.

### Final Answer:
Light can travel in a vacuum because it is an electromagnetic wave that does not require a medium for propagation, whereas sound is a mechanical wave that requires a material medium to travel.

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