why radio station are not transmitted using the sound waves?

Question

Clearly speaking, why are electromagnetic waves are used instead of audio/sound waves to transmit the radio station?
We had the discussion about this in our ECE class but somehow i forgot the exact answer.

Answer 1

much more power would be required to transmit the same content accoustically rather than electromagnetically because of propagation losses. this is by far the main reason, but consider these other reasons as well ...

distortion of the signal would also be much greater because sound travels though a medium such as air which greatly effects propagation.
the electromagnetic spectum propagates though free space and while atmospheric conditions, obstacles, etc. do effect propagation, these are nowhere as significant as for a mechanical wave like sound.

also consider the noise pollution, the difficulty to isolating the signal you want to hear, etc. .... I recognise that you could use the spectrum above human hearing but still that does not have much bandwidth (i.e. you would not be able to transmit many stations simultanteously)

Answer 2

probably has to do with how it'd be extremely difficult to transmit the station that far since you would have to be really really loud. but then that would cause a disturbance and would technically would be against the law to have sound basting out that loud at all hours. plus if you take into account how far those waves would have to travel. and for places like L.A. with all the high towers the waves would either bounce off the buildings or get absorbed (either way would really make people mad)

in a nutshell: it'd be an inconvenience and unpractical.

Answer 3

Sound waves are mechanical waves while radio waves are electromagnetic. Mechanical waves are reflected by all objects while electromagnetic waves are only affected by objects that influence electrical properties. Mechanical waves dissipiate far faster than electromagnetic waves...etc, etc, etc

Answer 4

Because sound waves don't propagate anywhere near as well as electromagnetic waves.

Doug

Answer 5

because they can't use light wave...duh!