Light waves differ from sound waves and water waves in several key ways:
Nature: Light waves are electromagnetic waves, while sound waves and water waves are mechanical waves. Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium (such as air or water) to propagate, whereas mechanical waves require a medium for transmission.
Medium: Light waves can propagate through vacuum, as well as transparent substances like air, water, and glass. Sound waves require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to travel through. Water waves, as the name suggests, specifically propagate through bodies of water.
Speed: Light waves travel at an incredibly high speed in a vacuum, approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (or about 186,282 miles per second). Sound waves and water waves, on the other hand, travel at much slower speeds. The speed of sound in air is roughly 343 meters per second (or about 1,125 feet per second), while the speed of water waves depends on various factors, including the depth of the water.
Interaction: Light waves interact with matter in different ways than sound waves and water waves. Light waves can be reflected, refracted, diffracted, or absorbed by various materials, depending on their properties and wavelengths. Sound waves can also be reflected and refracted, but their interaction with matter is primarily through mechanical vibrations and compression and rarefaction of the medium. Water waves interact with the surface and boundaries of bodies of water, exhibiting behaviors such as reflection, refraction, and interference.
Frequency and Wavelength: Light waves have much higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths compared to sound waves and water waves. The visible spectrum of light waves, which humans can perceive, ranges from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers. Sound waves have frequencies in the audible range of human hearing, typically ranging from 20 to 20,000 Hertz (Hz). Water waves have frequencies and wavelengths that depend on the properties of the body of water and the external factors influencing it, such as wind or seismic activity.
These differences in nature, medium, speed, interaction, and frequency/wavelength characteristics make light waves distinct from sound waves and water waves, each with its unique properties and behaviors.