Which of the following statements about electromagnetic waves, sound waves and water waves is/are correct ?
- 1. They exhibit reflection
- 2. They carry energy
- 3. They exert pressure
- 4. They can travel in vacuum
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
1, 2 and 3
2 and 4
1 and 3 only
1 only
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2018
1. They exhibit reflection: Yes, all three types of waves can be reflected when they encounter a boundary. (e.g., light reflection from a mirror, sound reflection creating an echo, water waves reflecting off a wall). Correct.
2. They carry energy: Yes, all waves are disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another. Correct.
3. They exert pressure: Electromagnetic waves exert radiation pressure. Sound waves are essentially pressure variations in a medium. Water waves exert pressure on objects they encounter. Correct.
4. They can travel in vacuum: Electromagnetic waves (like light, radio waves) can travel through a vacuum. However, sound waves require a material medium (like air, water, or solids) to propagate and cannot travel in a vacuum. Water waves also require water as a medium. Incorrect.
Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct for all three types of waves, while statement 4 is only correct for electromagnetic waves.