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Waves transfer energy, not matter. This energy can be in the form of sound, light, or motion. Waves help transmit information through space.
In a perfect vacuum, electromagnetic waves do not transfer energy. This is because there are no particles or medium for the waves to interact with, leading to no energy transfer.
Electromagnetic waves transfer thermal energy through radiation. These waves include infrared radiation, which is commonly associated with heat transfer.
Electromagnetic waves, such as light and radio waves, transfer energy through oscillating electric and magnetic fields. In addition, mechanical waves, like sound waves, transfer energy through the vibration of particles in a medium.
Mechanical waves can only transfer energy through a medium. These waves require a medium, such as air or water, to propagate and transfer energy. Examples of mechanical waves include sound waves and seismic waves.
Some waves can transfer energy only through liquids and solids, but not through gases or vacuum. Some waves, like sound waves, can transfer energy through gases, liquids and solids but not through vacuum. And some waves, notably electromagnetic waves, can transfer energy through vacuum as well as matter.