What are the physical differences between light and sound waves that have the same wavelength?
First of all, the physical basis of the waves are different. Sound is a longitudinal pressure wave. Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave: a traveling oscillation of perpendicular electric and magnetic fields. Second, since the speed of light is much higher than sound, when the wavelengths are the same, the frequency of an electromagnetic wave will be much higher. • Why does sound not travel through outer space but light does? There is no material medium in outer space that can support pressure variations, so there is no sound. But electric and magnetic fields are everywhere, including outer space. • Can refraction occur with sound waves? Yes. After all, refraction is a pure wave phenomenon, due to the speed of a wave changing in different media, but the frequency remaining the same. So any wave can be refracted, if you have media where the wave speed differs. For example, sound travels much faster in water than in air, so sound will be refracted when passing between air and water
