Question

part a: sort the characteristics
place each characteristic under \light\ or \sound\:

• travels as a transverse wave
• travels as a longitudinal wave
• can travel through a vacuum
• needs a medium to travel
• travels faster in air
• travels faster in solids
• used in communication (examples: radios, ultrasound)
• can reflect, refract, and diffract

light	sound

Explanation:

Step1: Recall Light Wave Properties

Light is a transverse wave, can travel through vacuum (no medium needed), speed in vacuum/air is constant (faster in vacuum than air, but in air, light's speed is ~\(3\times10^8\) m/s; sound in air is ~343 m/s, so light faster in air), can reflect/refract/diffract, used in communication (radios use EM waves including light). So:

• Travels as a transverse wave
• Can travel through a vacuum
• Travels faster in air
• Can reflect, refract, and diffract
• Used in communication (radios)

Step2: Recall Sound Wave Properties

Sound is longitudinal, needs a medium (no vacuum travel), speed increases with medium density (faster in solids than air), used in communication (ultrasound), can reflect/refract/diffract. So:

• Travels as a longitudinal wave
• Needs a medium to travel
• Travels faster in solids
• Used in communication (ultrasound)

Answer:

Light	Sound