A student is investigating two types of waves. Which question can the student ask to determine whether a wave is electromagnetic?

Question

A.
Can the wave travel through a gas?

B.
Can the wave travel through a solid?

C.
Can the wave travel through a liquid?

D.
Can the wave travel through a vacuum?

Answer 1

To determine whether a wave is electromagnetic, the student should ask:

D. Can the wave travel through a vacuum?

Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum, while mechanical waves (like sound waves) cannot. This property distinguishes electromagnetic waves from other types of waves.