Which of the following waves requires a medium to propagate?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following waves requires a medium to propagate?
Electromagnetic waves
Sound waves
Light waves
Radio waves
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate, while electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following waves requires a medium to propagate?
Solution: Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate, while electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand what a wave is. A wave is a disturbance that travels through space and matter.
Step 2: Learn about the two main types of waves: mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.
Step 3: Know that mechanical waves, like sound waves, need a medium (like air, water, or solid materials) to travel through.
Step 4: Recognize that electromagnetic waves, like light, do not need a medium and can travel through empty space (a vacuum).
Step 5: Conclude that sound waves are the type of wave that requires a medium to propagate.
