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What two physics mistakes occur in a science fiction movie that shows a distant

ID: 2303259 • Letter: W

Question

What two physics mistakes occur in a science fiction movie that shows a distant explosion in outer space, where you see and hear the explosion at the same time?

1. The explosion cannot occur in outer space; if it could, the sound would reach you before the light.

2. The explosion cannot occur in outer space; if it could, the faster-moving light would reach you before the sound.

3. In outer space there is no air to carry sound; if there were, the faster-moving light would reach you before the sound.

4. None of these

5. In outer space there is no material to carry light; if there were, the sound would reach you before the light.

Explanation / Answer

2. The explosion cannot occur in outer space; if it could, the faster-moving light would reach you before the sound.

3. In outer space there is no air to carry sound; if there were, the faster-moving light would reach you before the sound.

Since, You can't hear an explosion in space, because sound is a vibration and it needs something to carry the vibration, such as a solid, liquid or gas. Space is nothing. It is neither solid, liquid nor gas, hence there is nothing in space to vibrate! In air the sound 'energy' is transmitted by molecules of air vibrating' by rapidly bumping into adjacent molecules in an ever-increasing wave of sound, like the ripples of water on a pond after a stone has been thrown in. You can't hear sound and see light at the same because light and sound travel at different speeds.

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