Why can't you hear any noise in space?

To understand this, we must first know how sound energy gets from one place to another. This is done via waves, of which there are two different types: longitudinal and transverse. 
Light is a transverse wave which travels just like a piece of string would if it was fixed at one end and moved up and down at another, and looks like a sine wave.
Sound, however is longitudinal which means energy (sound in this case) moves along by hitting the atoms next to it. These atoms then vibrate and hit their neighbours and so on. Eventually these vibrations reach our eardrum and start vibrating that which is how we hear. 
Space is a vaccum meaning there are no particles to vibrate. If nothing can vibrate then no energy can be transferred meaning no noise!

JT
Answered by James T. Physics tutor

3916 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How does the angle of an inclined plane relate to its efficiency, given the coefficient of friction between a body and the plane?


why does photoelectric emission occur only when there is a certain threshold frequency of incident radiation?


How do you prove Kepler's Third Law?


A block of mass m is released from rest on a surface inclined at 30⁰ to the horizontal with a coefficient of friction of 0.3. How long does it take for the block to slide 1 m?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning