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The waves in a sound wave are a series of compressions and rarefactions of some medium, which is normally thought of as air, but can be in water, and other liquids, and solids. In a vacuum there is nothing to compress.

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12y ago
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4mo ago

Sound waves require a medium, such as air, to travel because they propagate through the vibration of particles in that medium. In the vacuum of space, there is no medium for sound waves to travel through, so they cannot propagate. Additionally, space is a near-perfect vacuum, so there are very few particles for sound waves to interact with even if a medium were present.

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12y ago

There is no atmosphere in outer space for sound to travel though. You can not have sound in empty space.

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Q: Why can't a sound wave travel in space?
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Why cant you hear each other in space?

Sound waves require a medium, such as air or water, to travel through. In space, there is a near-vacuum with very few particles to carry sound waves. Therefore, without a medium to propagate through, sound cannot travel in space.


Can the sound of a wave travel through space?

Yes, sound travels through space when the space is filled with some medium such as air (or water or iron or cetera). Sound is vibrations in the medium which travel as a wave. If there is nothing in the medium, no sound travels through it. Outerspace is pretty empty. You won't hear anything if you're in outerspace (except sounds from inside your space suit/ship). P.S. Do you mean the sound of a wave (like splashing on rocks) or a sound wave?


What kind of wave can travel only through matter?

A mechanical wave, such as a sound wave, can only travel through matter because it requires a medium to propagate. Electromagnetic waves, such as light, can travel through both matter and empty space.


What of these waves can NOT travel through the vacuum of space?

Sound waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space because they require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. Electromagnetic waves, like light and radio waves, can travel through the vacuum of space because they do not require a medium.


Why is it that light can travel to Earth from a distant star but sound cannot?

Light can travel through the vacuum of space because it is an electromagnetic wave that does not require a medium to propagate. Sound, on the other hand, is a mechanical wave that requires a medium, like air, water, or solids, to travel through. Since space is a vacuum, there is no medium for sound waves to travel through from a distant star to Earth.

Related questions

Why cant you hear each other in space?

Sound waves require a medium, such as air or water, to travel through. In space, there is a near-vacuum with very few particles to carry sound waves. Therefore, without a medium to propagate through, sound cannot travel in space.


How does a satellites move in space when its vacuum?

well space is like a vacuum you cant escape it and sound wave do not travel in space but space isn't literally a vacuum so they move by rockets and the gravity of earth


Why can't a sound wave travel from a satellite to earth?

A sound wave cannot travel through space because there is no air in space. Without a medium such as air, you can't hear sounds


Can the sound of a wave travel through space?

Yes, sound travels through space when the space is filled with some medium such as air (or water or iron or cetera). Sound is vibrations in the medium which travel as a wave. If there is nothing in the medium, no sound travels through it. Outerspace is pretty empty. You won't hear anything if you're in outerspace (except sounds from inside your space suit/ship). P.S. Do you mean the sound of a wave (like splashing on rocks) or a sound wave?


Why a sound wave can't travel from a satellite to earth?

A sound wave can not travel from a satellite to earth because there is not an atmosphere in space. The sound wave has no way off traveling through the air because there isn't any air.


What is it that sound cannot travel through?

Sound can travel through any medium. If you remove the medium you would end up with a vacuum. It is in vacuums that sound cannot travel as it needs a medium to travel (it travels as a compression wave or shear wave). Space is almost a perfect vacuum so sound is unable to travel through space.


What kind of wave can travel only through matter?

A mechanical wave, such as a sound wave, can only travel through matter because it requires a medium to propagate. Electromagnetic waves, such as light, can travel through both matter and empty space.


What of these waves can NOT travel through the vacuum of space?

Sound waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space because they require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. Electromagnetic waves, like light and radio waves, can travel through the vacuum of space because they do not require a medium.


What do Sound wave not travel?

Sound wave do not travel through vaccum as it need medium to travel.


Does molecules need to be present for sound to travel?

Sound is a wave and it needs a medium to travel through. Waves in the ocean use water as a medium. Without water, you can't have a wave. In the case of sound you need a medium, whether its solid, liquid or gas, for the sound to travel through. Hence the line, "in space, no one can year you scream." Space is a vacuum (i.e. no "molecules") so sound cannot travel.


Why is it that light can travel to Earth from a distant star but sound cannot?

Light can travel through the vacuum of space because it is an electromagnetic wave that does not require a medium to propagate. Sound, on the other hand, is a mechanical wave that requires a medium, like air, water, or solids, to travel through. Since space is a vacuum, there is no medium for sound waves to travel through from a distant star to Earth.


Can sound wave travel through space or matter?

Type your answer here... yes because of the vibration