What do sound waves and light have in common?

They both carry energy

They both travel through space

They both need matter to travel

They both cause compression of matter

1 answer

Sound waves and light share some similarities, but they also have key differences. Here’s an analysis of the options you provided:

  1. They both carry energy: This is true for both sound waves and light. Sound waves carry energy through vibrations in a medium, while light waves (electromagnetic waves) carry energy in the form of photons.

  2. They both travel through space: This statement is partially true, but with important distinctions. Sound requires a medium (like air, water, or solid materials) to travel, while light can travel through a vacuum (space) without needing a medium.

  3. They both need matter to travel: This is only true for sound waves, as they require a medium to propagate. Light can travel in a vacuum, so it does not require matter.

  4. They both cause compression of matter: This is true for sound waves, as they create compressional waves in the medium. However, light does not cause compression of matter in the same manner, as it does not require a medium to propagate.

In summary, the most accurate similarity between sound waves and light from the options provided is that "they both carry energy."