Introduction to Waves — Quiz

Question 7 • Physics

In an experiment, a ringing bell is placed in a vacuum jar that does not have any air in it. What best describes why the bell is seen vibrating but not heard?

Answer

Light is a longitudinal wave that is able to pass through the vacuum jar, but sound is a transverse wave that has to move perpendicular to air.

Light waves have high frequencies and are able to pass through the vacuum jar, but the frequencies of sound waves are too low to vibrate a vacuum.

Light waves travel faster than sound waves, so they are able to travel through the vacuum jar, but sound waves do not have enough energy to vibrate glass.

Light does not need a medium to travel through, but since sound waves must have a medium to vibrate, sound is not created where no air is present.

Explanation

Light can travel through a vacuum, so light from the vibrating bell reaches your eyes and you can see it. Sound needs a material medium, such as air, to carry its vibrations to your ears. With no air in the jar, the bell’s sound cannot travel through the vacuum, which matches choice D.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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