estigating the speed of waves. She hypothesizes that waves travel at different speeds depending on the media. She sets up an experiment where she sends two different waves through air, water, and glass. She keeps the temperature of each medium constant and measures the speed of the waves as they travel through each medium. The data table shows her results.

Question

Wave Air Water Glass
1 299,700 (km/s) 225,260 (km/s) 200,000 (km/s)
2 .331 (km/s) 1.482 (km/s) 5.640 (km/s)
Multiple Choice Question
What would be the most likely result if Mica performed the same experiment again, but she sent both waves through a vacuum instead of air, water, and glass?
A.
Wave Vacuum
1 0 (km/s)
2 0 (km/s)
B.
Wave Vacuum
1 0 (km/s)
2 .259 (km/s)
C.
Wave Vacuum
1 299,792 (km/s)
2 0 (km/s)
D.
Wave Vacuum
1 299,792 (km/s)
2 .259 (km/s)

Answer 1

To solve this question, we need to understand how waves travel through different media.

1. Wave 1 seems to be a type of electromagnetic wave (like light) since it travels fastest through a vacuum, where the speed is approximately \(299,792 \text{ km/s}\). The speed of light in a vacuum is considered the maximum speed for wave propagation.

2. Wave 2 is likely a sound wave (or some other mechanical wave), which cannot travel through a vacuum at all. Sound requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate. Consequently, its speed in a vacuum would be \(0 \text{ km/s}\).

Given this information, if Mica were to conduct her experiment in a vacuum, the results would be:

• Wave 1 would travel at approximately \(299,792 \text{ km/s}\).
• Wave 2 would have a speed of \(0 \text{ km/s}\).

Therefore, the most likely result if she sent both waves through a vacuum would be:

C.

Wave   Vacuum
1     299,792 (km/s)
2     0 (km/s)