Light waves and audio waves are both forms of waves but they differ in several key aspects:
Nature of the Wave: Light waves are electromagnetic waves, whereas audio waves are mechanical waves.
Medium of Propagation: Light waves can travel through vacuum (such as in space) or through transparent media like air, water, or glass. On the other hand, audio waves require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. They cannot travel through vacuum.
Frequency Range: Light waves have much higher frequencies than audio waves. Light waves typically range from trillions of cycles per second (terahertz) to billions of cycles per second (gigahertz), while audio waves range from 20 to 20,000 cycles per second (20 Hz to 20 kHz).
Sensory Perception: Light waves are detected by the human visual system, allowing us to perceive colors and brightness. Audio waves are detected by the human auditory system, enabling us to perceive sound and its qualities such as pitch and volume.
Regarding converting one wave into another by changing its frequency, it is not as straightforward as simply changing the frequency. Frequency refers to the number of cycles or oscillations a wave completes per unit of time. Changing the frequency of a wave alone does not convert it from one type to another.
To convert between light waves and audio waves, a more complex process is required. In general, light waves can be converted to audio waves through a process called modulation and subsequent demodulation. This involves encoding the audio signal onto a light wave (for example, using optical modulation techniques) and then decoding it back to an audio wave at the receiving end (using a demodulation process). Similarly, audio waves can be converted to light waves by encoding the audio signal onto a light wave carrier (such as in fiber optics) and then extracting it at the receiving end.
However, it's important to note that these processes involve sophisticated techniques and equipment. Simply changing the frequency of a wave does not accomplish the conversion between light and audio waves.