Unrealistic Scene: Why Sound Cannot Travel Through a Vacuum
Why is a scene like this not realistic?
Explanation: The scene described as being unrealistic is likely due to a misunderstanding of how sound waves work in different environments. The correct answer to describe why the scene is unrealistic is B. Sound needs a medium through which it can be transmitted. This is because sound waves are pressure waves that rely on the motion of particles in a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. In contrast to sound, light waves are electromagnetic and do not require a medium; they can travel through a vacuum. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles to transmit the vibrations caused by a sound-producing event, such as an explosion.
Therefore, scenes depicting explosions in space that include sound, as often shown in movies, are not realistic because space is largely a vacuum where sound cannot propagate. In reality, an explosion in space would be silent to an observer because there would be no medium to carry the sound waves.
Which of the following best describes why a scene like this is not realistic? A. Sound cannot produce vibrations. B. Sound needs a medium through which it can be transmitted. C. Sound is not produced when something explodes in air. D. Sound can travel through a vacuum.
The unrealistic aspect of the described scene is that sound needs a medium to travel through and cannot propagate in a vacuum, whereas light does not need a medium and can travel through a vacuum.