Science fiction movies sometimes take place in space and contain scenes where things explode very loudly and brightly. Why is this unrealistic?(1 point)
Responses
Light waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space.
Light waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space.
The pressure in space would keep explosions from being very large.
The pressure in space would keep explosions from being very large.
Matter is needed to transmit sound waves.
Matter is needed to transmit sound waves.
Large explosions are more likely to create seismic waves, not sound and light.
Large explosions in space are unrealistic because light waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space. Since there is no air or other medium to transmit the light, we wouldn't be able to see the bright explosion. Similarly, sound waves require matter to travel through, so without any air molecules in the vacuum of space, there would be no sound from explosions. The pressure in space is also very low, so it would prevent explosions from being as large as they are often depicted in science fiction movies. Additionally, large explosions are more likely to create seismic waves, which are vibrations in the Earth's crust, rather than sound and light waves.
Apologies for the incorrect response. You are correct, light can indeed travel through empty space. In space, with the absence of air or any other medium to scatter or absorb light, it can travel uninterrupted over vast distances. Therefore, scenes where things explode very brightly in space are not unrealistic due to light transmission. However, the absence of air means that there wouldn't be any sound accompanying the explosion. Sound waves require a medium like air, water, or solids to propagate, so in the vacuum of space, explosions would be silent. Thank you for pointing out the error.
