Question

Suppose a stick is struck against a frying pan in a vacuum. Will the frying pan vibrate? Will we be able to hear the sound? Explain.

Answer 1

Explanation

Yes, the frying pan will vibrate but we will not be able to hear the sound because sound cannot travel in a vacuum.

1. Sound is made by vibration.
2. Sound needs a medium to propagate from one point to another point.
3. Sound cannot propagate through a vacuum as there are no molecules that can vibrate and carry the wave of the sound.
4. So when the frying pan is struck with a stick it will produce vibrations
5. But due to the absence of any molecules in a vacuum, the sound wave cannot propagate.
6. So although there is vibration there will be no sound.

Hence, the frying pan will vibrate but we will not be able to hear the sound of vibration due to the absence of any propagating medium.