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Mechanical waves would not be able to travel through the vacuum of space becauseGroup of answer choicesit lacks matterit's too coldit's too far away

Question

Mechanical waves would not be able to travel through the vacuum of space because

  • it lacks matter
  • it's too cold
  • it's too far away
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Solution

Explanation of the Concept

Mechanical waves, such as sound waves and water waves, require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate. This is because mechanical waves transmit energy through the vibration of particles within that medium. In the absence of matter, as is the case in the vacuum of space, there are no particles to vibrate, which means these waves cannot travel.

Key Points

  1. Nature of Mechanical Waves: They need a medium to propagate.
  2. Vacuum: A vacuum is devoid of matter, meaning there are no particles to facilitate the movement of mechanical waves.
  3. Other Types of Waves: Unlike mechanical waves, electromagnetic waves (like light) do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum.

Conclusion

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: it lacks matter. This is the primary reason mechanical waves cannot travel in the vacuum of space.

This problem has been solved

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