What are some key differences between sound and light waves?

Sound waves have mass, as they are the longitudinal (along the path of the wave) vibration shockwave of molecule, while light waves do not, as they are the transverse displacement of just energy.

Sound waves cannot travel in a vacuum, as they require a medium of massive particle to be transvered, but light wave can, as they are simply a form of energy.

In spite of this, the basic properties of waves still apply to both - light and sound can be reflected by objects, they can be refracted in different media, they have wavelength and frequency, and they can interfere to change the magnitude of a wave at any point.

YP

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A person swims from a depth of 0.50 m to a depth of 1.70 m below the surface of the sea. Density of the sea water = 1030 kg/m^3. Gravitational field strength = 9.8 N/kg. Calculate the increase in pressure on the swimmer. Give the unit.


A car horn has a frequency of 680 Hz and a wavelength of 50cm. Calculate the speed of the sound waves produced by the car horn:


An elastic wire suspended from a workbench has a 2kg mass attached to its free end. The wire changes in length by 2cm. Calculate the elastic potential energy stored in the wire.


How is a PET scanner able to locate a tumour in the patient's body?