Mechanical (sound) waves to Earth from satellites. How is this possible? aves are unable to travel through a vacuum, such as through space, but radio waves are transmitted

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Physics

Richard Hendrix

22 May, 13:05

Mechanical (sound) waves to Earth from satellites. How is this possible? aves are unable to travel through a vacuum, such as through space, but radio waves are transmitted

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Ivy Oneal · Answer 1

Sound waves are not able to travel in a vacuum, sound requires a medium such as air or a solid for example. Satellites are indeed in space, but radio waves are not sound waves they are a form of light. Light can travel in a vacuum so the messages that satellites beam back to Earth are light waves not sound waves, that is why it is possible.