Why Can You Hear a Spaceship Explosion in a Science Fiction Movie?

Understanding Sound Travel in Space

In a science fiction movie, a nearby spaceship explodes and you hear the explosion on your ship. In reality, this scenario would be a departure from the actual principles of sound travel in space.

The Reality of Sound Waves: Sound waves require a medium, such as air or water, to travel through. Since space is mostly a vacuum, there is no medium for sound to propagate. Therefore, in real life, you wouldn't be able to hear the explosion of the nearby spaceship in space.

Explanation for Hearing the Explosion

The phenomenon in the given scenario occurs because sound can travel through a medium (gas, liquid, or solid) and needs a medium to propagate. In the vacuum of space, there is no medium for sound to travel through.

When the nearby spaceship explodes, it creates a disturbance that moves through the medium (if present) and reaches your ship. This disturbance generates a pressure wave that is perceived as an explosion in the air surrounding your ship, allowing you to hear the sound.

Do you think sound can travel in space according to the reality of physics?

No, according to the laws of physics, sound cannot travel through the vacuum of space as it requires a medium to propagate. In the absence of a medium like air or water in space, there is no way for sound waves to travel and be heard.