De Broglie's hypothesis, also known as wave-particle duality, suggests that particles, such as electrons or photons, exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. It states that for any particle, there is an associated wave with a wavelength determined by the particle's momentum.
While de Broglie's hypothesis applies to particles, it does not mean that all waves are associated with particles. In the case of sound waves, they are not composed of particles in the same way that particles like electrons or photons are.
Sound waves are mechanical waves that propagate through a medium, such as air, water, or solids. They are created by the compression and rarefaction of the medium's particles, transmitting energy from one particle to another. Sound waves do not possess discrete particles associated with them.
The reason sound waves cannot propagate through a vacuum is that they require a medium to transmit the mechanical vibrations. In a vacuum, there is no material medium for the sound waves to interact with and propagate through. Therefore, sound waves cannot travel through empty space.
In contrast, electromagnetic waves, including visible light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, do not require a material medium to propagate. They can travel through a vacuum because they consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that can propagate independently of a medium. This is why light, for example, can travel through the vacuum of outer space.
In summary, while de Broglie's hypothesis relates to the wave-particle duality of particles, it does not imply that all waves are associated with particles. Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium for propagation, whereas electromagnetic waves, including light, can propagate through a vacuum due to their wave-like nature.