Which of the following is correct about light and sound waves?
Answer Details
Light and sound waves are both associated with energy transfer, but they differ in many other aspects.
Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a material medium to propagate, such as air, water, or solids. In contrast, light waves are electromagnetic waves that can propagate through vacuum and do not require a material medium.
Sound waves are longitudinal waves, which means that the particles of the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave propagation. On the other hand, light waves are transverse waves, which means that the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave propagation.
The velocity of sound waves depends on the medium through which they propagate, and it is generally much slower than the velocity of light in vacuum. For instance, the velocity of sound in air at room temperature is about 330 m/s, while the velocity of light in vacuum is approximately 3 x 10^8 m/s.
Finally, only light waves can be polarized, meaning that their oscillations can be confined to a particular plane. Sound waves cannot be polarized.