Light Wave Travel: Explained for You

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Light waves, like sound waves, are generated by disturbances, but they differ in that light does not require a medium to travel, allowing it to move through a vacuum. While sound waves involve the vibration of air molecules, which do not need to be the same molecules that reach the listener, light exhibits both particle and wave characteristics. This dual nature of light enables it to propagate through space without the need for a physical medium. Understanding light's movement can be clarified by comparing it to sound, as both involve wave propagation despite their differing mechanisms. Overall, light's behavior aligns with wave principles while also incorporating unique properties.
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In my poor knowledge, wave is created by a disturbance and meanwhile the particle just move upward or downward in a transverse wave . However , light seems a different one . It is move! can anyone explain it for me please?
 
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no idea said:
In my poor knowledge, wave is created by a disturbance and meanwhile the particle just move upward or downward in a transverse wave . However , light seems a different one . It is move! can anyone explain it for me please?

I must admit, I don't quite understand why you find this unusual. You have heard of sounds from far away sources, haven't you? Sound is a wave, which is caused by the vibration of air (or any medium) molecules. But do you think the same air molecules that were vibrating at the source are the identical ones that eventually hit your ear drums? They are not. The air molecules need not have any average displacement. Yet, sound DOES move from one location to another!

It looks like light isn't that different after all IF we just consider this aspect of it.

Zz.
 
no idea said:
In my poor knowledge, wave is created by a disturbance and meanwhile the particle just move upward or downward in a transverse wave . However , light seems a different one . It is move! can anyone explain it for me please?

As ZapperZ said, sound waves are caused by vibration of the air. Even though the air affected by the wave moves only a little, the wave still moves through the air. Light moves in a similar fashion (but not exactly, it does not require vibration of the air and can occur in a vacuum) because it exhibits both properties of particles and waves.
 
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