Question

Conner conducts the following experiment. He places a bell in a vacuum jar. During his first trial, he leaves the bell outside the jar. He sees the bell vibrating and he hears the bell ringing. During his second trial, he removes the air from the vacuum jar. He sees the bell vibrating but he does not hear the abell ringing. What does this experiment tell the student about waves?


A.Light waves are electromagnetic waves and sound waves are mechanical waves.

B.Light waves are mechanical waves and sound waves are electromagnetic waves.

C.Both light waves and sound waves need a medium to travel through.

D.Neither light nor sound waves need a medium to travel through.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Light waves are electromagnetic waves and sound waves are mechanical waves.

Explanation:

The experiment is clear proof that light waves are electromagnetic waves and that sound waves are mechanical waves.

• Electromagnetic waves are waves that do not require a material medium for their propagation.
• Although, with material medium they can also be propagated.
• This is why in both set up, the bell still vibrates.
• Mechanical waves are dependent on the material in the medium.
• They cannot be propagated in vacuum.
• There is no matter present in vacuum to help transmit the sound waves.