whats the difference between wave and light? howcome wave can move thru metal but light can't?

Question

no i mean wave, like radio.

I know sound moves by moving atoms but in space... no atoms!

Answer 1

light has characteristics of waves and particles. A radio wave wave length is so long that it passes between the metals atoms, but as you notice when passing under a bridge, it doesnt do it well or completely. shorter wavelgths collide with the metal...like heat.

Answer 2

There are different kinds of waves. Some waves, like sound waves and water waves, are motions of the material carrying the wave. Light waves are different; no physical matter moves in a light (radio, infra-red, UV, x-ray or gamma) wave. Light waves are electric and magnetic fields interacting with each other; they do not require any medium to carry them. These waves will pass through materials that do not disrupt these fields or absorb their energy. Remember, all matter is mostly empty space, so light can pass through unless absorbed or reflected.

Answer 3

Light and radio are both "electromagnetic waves": they both consist of vibrating electrical fields.

Radio waves cannot pass *directly through* metal objects, but tend to be reflected just like visible light.

However because of their very long wavelength, radio waves can easily bend *around* moderately sized metal objects, rather like ocean waves around wharf pilings.

Metals can be used as antennas, to generate radio waves. If a metal object is connect to a source of high frequency alternating current, the moving electrons in the metal tend to generate electromagnetic "ripples." Unlike sound waves or water waves, these "ripples" do not need a medium and can travel through a total vacuum.

The reason metals tend to reflect light, is because of the fact that they can conduct electric charges. Any external electric disturbances, be they light or radio waves, cause electrons to move through the metal, setting up "eddy currents."

These currents generate corresponding electromagnetic waves of their own, in equal and opposite directions to any incoming waves.

Hope that's not too confusing,
W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 4

Presumably by "wave" you mean sound wave. Metals are electrically conductive, so electromagnetic radiation is shorted out and cannot propagate through metal. But sound is tramsmitted by atomic or molecular motion, so sound waves can propagate through any solid material.