Question

comparing mechanical and electromagnetic waves: an astronaut took a headlamp and a speaker to the international space station (iss). to test the efficiency of each tool they recorded the speed of each tool inside and outside the iss and placed the results in a table. which set of data supports the properties of mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves?

Explanation:

• Mechanical waves (sound from the speaker): Require a medium. Inside the ISS, there is air (a medium), so sound can travel (\(343\ m/s\)). Outside the ISS, it is a vacuum (no medium for mechanical waves), so sound cannot travel (speed is \(0\) or no value).
• Electromagnetic waves (light from the headlamp): Do not require a medium. Light (electromagnetic wave) travels at approximately \(299792458\ m/s\) in a vacuum (outside the ISS) and also has a very high speed (close to \(299792458\ m/s\)) inside the ISS (where there is air, but electromagnetic waves are not hindered significantly in the thin air of the ISS compared to vacuum for the sake of this problem - light speed in air is slightly less than in vacuum, but for the context of distinguishing from mechanical waves, the key is that it can travel in vacuum).

Answer:

The third table (where Headlamp has \(299792458\ m/s\) inside and outside and Speaker has \(343\ m/s\) inside and no value outside) is the correct one.