What are waves?

1 mark · Easy

A bell rings inside a vacuum chamber, but you cannot hear it from outside. What does this show about how sound waves transfer energy?

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Sound waves need a material (medium) to transfer energy.

Also accept: Sound waves need a medium/material to transfer energy; Sound cannot travel without a material to carry energy

Common mistakes: Sound travels through vacuum

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Marking points

B1 · 1 mark · States that sound waves need a material/medium to transfer energy.

Worked solution

Sound needs a material (medium) to transfer energy; in a vacuum, there is no medium, so sound can't be heard.