Chapter 6: Problem 9

If you were actually in a battle fought in space like the ones shown in science fiction movies, would you hear the explosions that occur? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Explain your answer. Answer: No, a person cannot hear explosions in a space battle similar to those depicted in science fiction movies because sound cannot travel through the vacuum of space. Sound requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through, and the lack of particles in space prevents the propagation of sound waves.

Step by step solution

Understanding sound propagation

In order to determine whether explosions would be audible in space, we need to understand how sound propagates. Sound is a mechanical wave, which means it requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles for the vibrations to propagate through.

Considering the space environment

In space, there is a very low density of particles, making it an almost perfect vacuum. Due to the lack of particles, there is no medium for sound waves to propagate through. This means that, in the vacuum of space, sound cannot travel.

Applying this to a space battle

In the context of a science fiction space battle, with ships and explosions occurring in the vacuum of space, sound would not be able to travel from the explosions to our ears. Therefore, we would not be able to hear the explosions.

Summary

In conclusion, if you were in a space battle as depicted in science fiction movies, you would not be able to hear the explosions because sound cannot travel through the vacuum of space. The lack of particles in space prevents the propagation of sound waves, making it a silent environment despite the visually intense battle.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

If you were actually in a battle fought in space like the ones shown in science fiction movies, would you hear the explosions that occur? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding sound propagation

Considering the space environment

Applying this to a space battle

Summary

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Medical Physics

Electricity and Magnetism

Fluids

Radiation

Space Physics

Measurements

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.