Question 5 How are electromagnetic and mechanical waves different? A Mechanical waves can only travel through a medium. Electromagnetic waves can also travel through a complete vacuum. Mechanical waves only travel through the vibration of liquids. Electromagnetic waves travel through the vibration of a medium. C Mechanical waves can only travel through a complete vacuum. Electromagnetic waves can also travel through a medium. Mechanical waves only travel through the vibration of charged particles. Electromagnetic waves travel through the vibration of a medi None Freeform – TV Shows, Full Epis… Waves, Light and Sound K Question 5 B C + D Question 5 How are electromagnetic and mechanical waves different? A Watch Shadowhunters Season… Pause Q Zoom 0 C Clever | Portal testing.illuminateed.com its itslearning Mechanical waves can only travel through a medium. Electromagnetic waves can also travel through a complete vacuum. Mechanical waves only travel through the vibration of liquids. Electromagnetic waves travel through the vibration of a medium. Mechanical waves can only travel through a complete vacuum. Electromagnetic waves can also travel through a medium. Mechanical waves only travel through the vibration of charged particles. Electromagnetic waves travel through the vibration of a medium. Q
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Correct Answer:
A. Mechanical waves can only travel through a medium. Electromagnetic waves can also travel through a complete vacuum.
Explanation:
Mechanical Waves
Mechanical waves require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate. They are produced by the vibration or disturbance of particles within the medium. These waves rely on the interaction of particles to transfer energy from one location to another. Examples of mechanical waves include sound waves, water waves, and seismic waves. Without a medium, such as air or water, these waves cannot travel because there are no particles to carry the vibrations.
Electromagnetic Waves
In contrast, electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to propagate. They can travel through a vacuum because they are generated by oscillating electric and magnetic fields, which sustain each other as they propagate through space. Examples include light waves, radio waves, X-rays, and microwaves. This is why sunlight can reach Earth from the Sun through the vacuum of space, while sound cannot.
Key Differences
The fundamental difference lies in the requirement for a medium. Mechanical waves are constrained to materials with particles, while electromagnetic waves are independent of a physical medium and can travel through the emptiness of space.
Furthermore, mechanical waves are classified into longitudinal (e.g., sound waves) and transverse (e.g., water waves), depending on how the particles move relative to the wave’s direction. Electromagnetic waves are inherently transverse, with electric and magnetic fields oscillating perpendicular to the wave’s direction.
Understanding this distinction is crucial in fields like physics, communication, and astronomy, as it explains phenomena like the transmission of sound in air and the behavior of light in space.