Table of Contents
What makes sound and light different from each other?
Sound can only travel through a medium (substance) while light can travel through empty space. Sound is a form of mechanical energy caused by vibrations of matter. Light is electromagnetic energy caused by interacting electric and magnetic fields. Light travels much faster than sound.
What is the single major difference between the nature of sound and light?
| Sound | Light |
|---|---|
| 1) Sound is a longitudinal wave. | 1) Light is a transverse wave. |
| 2) Sound requires a material medium. | 2) Light does not require a material medium. |
| 3) Sound in air moves at hundreds of meters per second. | 3) Light in air moves at hundreds of millions of meters per second. |
What are two ways sound can be different?
As you know, there are many different sounds. Fire alarms are loud, whispers are soft, sopranos sing high, tubas play low, every one of your friends has a different voice. The differences between sounds are caused by intensity, pitch, and tone.
What are the two differences between light waves and sound waves?
The differences between light and sound are as follows: Light waves are transverse while sound waves are longitudinal. Light waves can travel in vacuum. Sound waves require a material medium to travel, and hence, cannot travel in vacuum.
What are the similarities between sound and light?
There are three basic similarities between sound waves and light waves including interference, diffraction and refraction. Both the waves have the property of interference. When two coherent waves of sound waves or light waves fall in a same medium in a same direction, interference takes place.
Are sound and light alike?
Sound and light are similar in that both are forms of energy that travel in waves. They both have properties of wavelength, freqency and amplitude. Here are some differences:Sound can only travel through a medium (substance) while light can travel through empty space.Sound is a form of mechanical energy caused by vibrations of matter.
How are sound and light waves different?
Sound and light both travel as waves. The properties of these waves differ quite considerably. Sound waves travel a million times slower than light waves. They have wavelengths between 1 centimetre and 10 metres, and will easily diffract round corners. Light waves have much smaller wavelengths, and only diffract through very small holes.
What are some examples of light waves?
Some examples of light waves- Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light waves, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma Ray.