Light vs. Sound — What's the Difference?

Electromagnetic radiation visible to the eye.

Mechanical wave requiring a medium.

Can be absorbed, refracted, and reflected.

Carries energy in the form of pressure waves.

Affects the sense of sight.

In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain.

Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), between the infrared (with longer wavelengths) and the ultraviolet (with shorter wavelengths).

Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.

The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible

Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.

An expression in someone's eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood

The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.

Understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment

Such sensations considered as a group.

An area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings

A distinctive noise

A device used to produce a flame or spark

The distance over which something can be heard

A window or opening to let light in

An articulation made by the vocal apparatus

A person eminent in a particular sphere of activity

The distinctive character of such an articulation

(in a crossword puzzle) a blank space to be filled by a letter.

A mental impression; an implication

Provide with light or lighting; illuminate

Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.

Make (something) start burning; ignite

Meaningless noise.

Come upon or discover by chance

(Music) A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or singer.

Descend

(Archaic) Rumor; report.

Having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark

A long, relatively wide body of water, larger than a strait or a channel, connecting larger bodies of water.

(of a colour) pale

A long, wide ocean inlet.

Of little weight; not heavy

(Archaic) The swim bladder of a fish.

Not strongly or heavily built or made

An instrument used to examine or explore body cavities, as for foreign bodies or other abnormalities, or to dilate strictures in them.

Relatively low in density, amount, or intensity

To make or give forth a sound

(of food or a meal) small in quantity and easy to digest

To be given forth as a sound

Gentle or delicate

To present a particular impression

(of entertainment) requiring little mental effort; not profound or serious

To cause to give forth or produce a sound

(of a woman) having many casual sexual encounters or relationships.

To summon, announce, or signal by a sound

Electromagnetic radiation that is visible, perceivable by the normal human eye as colors between red and violet, having frequencies between 400 terahertz and 790 terahertz and wavelengths between 750 nanometers and 380 nanometers. Also called visible light.

(Linguistics) To articulate; pronounce

Electromagnetic radiation of any frequency or wavelength.

To make known; celebrate

The sensation of perceiving light; brightness

To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.

A source of light, especially a lamp, a lantern, or an electric lighting fixture

To measure the depth of (water), especially by means of a weighted line; fathom.

The illumination derived from a source of light

To try to learn the attitudes or opinions of

The particular quantity or quality of such illumination

To probe (a body cavity) with a sound.

The pathway or route of such illumination to a person

To measure depth.

A source of fire, such as a match or cigarette lighter.

To dive swiftly downward. Used of a marine mammal or a fish.

A mechanical device that uses illumination as a signal or warning, especially a beacon or traffic signal.

To look into a possibility; investigate.

Daylight.

Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition

Dawn; daybreak.

Free from disease or injury.

Something, such as a window, that admits illumination.

Marked by or showing common sense and good judgment; levelheaded

(Architecture) One of two or more openings in a window divided by a mullion or mullions.

Based on valid reasoning; having no logical flaws

Something that provides information or clarification

(Logic) Of or relating to an argument in which all the premises are true and the conclusion follows from the premises.

A state of awareness or understanding, especially as derived from a particular source

Secure or stable

Public attention; general knowledge

Financially secure or safe

Spiritual awareness; illumination.

Thorough; complete

A way of looking at or considering a matter; an aspect

Deep and unbroken; undisturbed

(Archaic) Eyesight.

Compatible with an accepted point of view; orthodox

Lights One's individual opinions, choices, or standards

Thoroughly; deeply

A person who inspires or is adored by another

Healthy.

A prominent or distinguished person; a luminary

Complete, solid, or secure.

An expression of the eyes

Having the property of soundness.

Lights Pieces of laundry that are not dark in color.

Good; acceptable; decent.

Light In Quaker doctrine, the guiding spirit or divine presence in each person.

(of sleep) Quiet and deep.

To set on fire; ignite or kindle

Heavy; laid on with force.

To cause to give out light; make luminous

Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective.

To provide, cover, or fill with light; illuminate

Soundly.

To signal, direct, or guide with light

Yes; used to show agreement or understanding, generally without much enthusiasm.

To enliven or animate

A sensation perceived by the ear caused by the vibration of air or some other medium.

To start to burn; be ignited or kindled

A vibration capable of causing such sensations.

To emit light; be lighted

(music) A distinctive style and sonority of a particular musician, orchestra, &.

To get down, as from a vehicle or horse; dismount.

Noise without meaning; empty noise.

To descend to the ground after flight; land.

, distance within which a certain noise may be heard.

To come upon one unexpectedly

(phonetics) A segment as a part of spoken language, the smallest unit of spoken language, a speech sound.

To come upon by chance or accident. Used with on or upon

A long narrow inlet, or a strait between the mainland and an island; also, a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean.

Having a greater rather than lesser degree of lightness.

The air bladder of a fish.

Of or being an additive primary color.

A long, thin probe for sounding or dilating body cavities or canals such as the urethra; a sonde.

Characterized by or filled with light; bright

(intransitive) To produce a sound.

Not dark in color; fair

(copulative) To convey an impression by one's sound.

Served with milk or cream. Used of coffee.

(intransitive) To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.

Of relatively little weight; not heavy

To resound.

Of relatively little weight for its size or bulk

To arise or to be recognizable as arising in or from a particular area of law, or as likely to result in a particular kind of legal remedy.

Of less than the correct, standard, or legal weight

(transitive) To cause to produce a sound.

Designed for ease and quickness of movement; having a structure that is slim and has little weight for its type or class

To pronounce.

Designed to carry relatively little weight

(intransitive) Dive downwards, used of a whale.

Carrying little equipment or armament

To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.

Requiring relatively little equipment and using relatively simple processes to produce consumer goods

Test; ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.

Exerting little force or impact; gentle

(medicine) To examine with the instrument called a sound or sonde, or by auscultation or percussion.

Indistinct; faint

The air bladder of a fish; as, cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.

Low in quantity or intensity

A cuttlefish.

Consuming or using relatively moderate amounts; abstemious

A narrow passage of water, or a strait between the mainland and an island; also, a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean; as, the Sound between the Baltic and the german Ocean; Long Island Sound.

Not harsh or severe

Any elongated instrument or probe, usually metallic, by which cavities of the body are sounded or explored, especially the bladder for stone, or the urethra for a stricture.

Moving easily and quickly; nimble

The peceived object occasioned by the impulse or vibration of a material substance affecting the ear; a sensation or perception of the mind received through the ear, and produced by the impulse or vibration of the air or other medium with which the ear is in contact; the effect of an impression made on the organs of hearing by an impulse or vibration of the air caused by a collision of bodies, or by other means; noise; report; as, the sound of a drum; the sound of the human voice; a horrid sound; a charming sound; a sharp, high, or shrill sound.

Easy to perform or accomplish; requiring little effort

The occasion of sound; the impulse or vibration which would occasion sound to a percipient if present with unimpaired; hence, the theory of vibrations in elastic media such cause sound; as, a treatise on sound.

Easy to bear or endure

Noise without signification; empty noise; noise and nothing else.

Having little importance; insignificant

Whole; unbroken; unharmed; free from flaw, defect, or decay; perfect of the kind; as, sound timber; sound fruit; a sound tooth; a sound ship.

Intended primarily as entertainment and lacking serious or weighty content

Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state; - said of body or mind; as, a sound body; a sound constitution; a sound understanding.

Not solemn or serious

Firm; strong; safe.

Free from worries or troubles; blithe

Free from error; correct; right; honest; true; faithful; orthodox; - said of persons; as, a sound lawyer; a sound thinker.

Mildly dizzy or faint

Founded in truth or right; supported by justice; not to be overthrown on refuted; not fallacious; as, sound argument or reasoning; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.

Easily awakened or disturbed

Heavy; laid on with force; as, a sound beating.

Easily digested

Undisturbed; deep; profound; as, sound sleep.

Containing a relatively small amount of a potentially harmful ingredient, such as alcohol, fat, or sodium

Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective; as, a sound title to land.

Having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened

Soundly.

Having a loose, porous consistency

To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet.

Of, relating to, or being a syllable ending in a short vowel or a short vowel plus a consonant.

Fig.: To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.

Of, relating to, or being a vowel or syllable pronounced with little or no stress.

To explore, as the bladder or urethra, with a sound; to examine with a sound; also, to examine by auscultation or percussion; as, to sound a patient.

In a light manner; lightly.

To ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.

With little weight and few burdens

To make a noise; to utter a voice; to make an impulse of the air that shall strike the organs of hearing with a perceptible effect.

Visible electromagnetic radiation. The human eye can typically detect radiation (light) in the wavelength range of about 400 to 750 nanometers. Nearby shorter and longer wavelength ranges, although not visible, are commonly called ultraviolet and infrared light.

To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.

A source of illumination.

To make or convey a certain impression, or to have a certain import, when heard; hence, to seem; to appear; as, this reproof sounds harsh; the story sounds like an invention.

(figurative) Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.

To cause to make a noise; to play on; as, to sound a trumpet or a horn; to sound an alarm.

Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.

To cause to exit as a sound; as, to sound a note with the voice, or on an instrument.

A notable person within a specific field or discipline.

To order, direct, indicate, or proclain by a sound, or sounds; to give a signal for by a certain sound; as, to sound a retreat; to sound a parley.

(painting) The manner in which the light strikes a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; opposed to shade.

To celebrate or honor by sounds; to cause to be reported; to publish or proclaim; as, to sound the praises of fame of a great man or a great exploit.

A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.

To examine the condition of (anything) by causing the same to emit sounds and noting their character; as, to sound a piece of timber; to sound a vase; to sound the lungs of a patient.

A flame or something used to create fire.

To signify; to import; to denote.

A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.

The particular auditory effect produced by a given cause;

A window in architecture, carriage design, or motor car design: either the opening itself or the window pane of glass that fills it, if any.

The subjective sensation of hearing something;

The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.

Mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium;

(informal) A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.

The sudden occurrence of an audible event;

Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.

The audible part of a transmitted signal;

The power of perception by vision.

(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language

The brightness of the eye or eyes.

A narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

A traffic light, or, by extension, an intersection controlled by one or more that will face a traveler who is receiving instructions.

A large ocean inlet or deep bay;

(curling) A stone that is not thrown hard enough.

Appear in a certain way;

See lungs.

Make a certain noise or sound;

A low-alcohol lager.

Give off a certain sound or sounds;

(transitive) To start (a fire).

Announce by means of a sound;

(transitive) To set fire to; to set burning.

Utter with vibrating vocal chords

(transitive) To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.

Cause to sound;

(intransitive) To become ignited; to take fire.

Measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.

Financially secure and safe;

To make (a bonus) available to be collected by hitting a target, and thus light up the feature light corresponding to that bonus to indicate its availability.

Exercising or showing good judgment;

(nautical) To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter

In good condition; free from defect or damage or decay;

To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.

In excellent physical condition;

To find by chance.

Reflects weight of sound argument or evidence;

To stop upon of eyes or a glance; to notice

Having legal efficacy or force;

(archaic) To alight; to land or come down.

Free from moral defect;

Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.

(of sleep) deep and complete;

Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.

Thorough;

(of coffee) Served with extra milk or cream.

Deeply or completely;

Having little or relatively little actual weight; not cumbrous or unwieldy.

Travels at approximately 343 m/s in air.

Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.

Affects the sense of hearing.

Of short or insufficient weight; weighing less than the legal, standard, or proper amount; clipped or diminished.

Can be reflected, absorbed, and refracted.

Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.

Free from burden or impediment; unencumbered.

Lightly built; typically designed for speed or small loads.

(military) Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.

Riding high because of no cargo; by extension, pertaining to a ship which is light.

Without any piece of equipment attached or attached only to a caboose.

With low viscosity.

(cookery) Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.

Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.

Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.

Gentle; having little force or momentum.

Easy to endure or perform.

Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.

(obsolete) Unchaste, wanton.

Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.

(dated) Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.

Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.

Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.

Easily interrupted by stimulation.

Carrying little.

That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.

That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.

The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.

The brightness of the eye or eyes.

The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.

Life; existence.

Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.

The power of perception by vision.

That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.

Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.

The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; - opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro.

Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put them in the right light.

One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity.

A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light.

Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light.

White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a deep shade; moderately colored; as, a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.

Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.

Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.

Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task.

Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.

Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.

Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.

Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.

Slight; not important; as, a light error.

Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.

Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.

Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.

Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.

Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.

Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.

Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.

Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.

Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.

Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.

Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.

To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; - sometimes with up.

To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; - often with up.

To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.

To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light.

To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; - with up; as, the room light up very well.

To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.

To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; - with from, off, on, upon, at, in.

To feel light; to be made happy.

To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.

To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; - with on or upon.

To come by chance; to happen; - with on or upon; formerly with into.

Lightly; cheaply.

(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation;

Any device serving as a source of illumination;

A particular perspective or aspect of a situation;

The quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light;

An illuminated area;

A condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination;

The visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures;

A person regarded very fondly;

Mental understanding as an enlightening experience;

Having abundant light or illumination;

Public awareness;

Brightness and animation of countenance;

A divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul

A visual warning signal;

A device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires;

Make lighter or brighter;

Begin to smoke;

To come to rest, settle;

Cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat;

Fall to somebody by assignment or lot;

Get off (a horse)

Of comparatively little physical weight or density;

(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent;

Of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment;

Not great in degree or quantity or number;

Psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles;

Characterized by or emitting light;

Used of vowels or syllables; pronounced with little or no stress;

Easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned;

(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency;

(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims;

Moving easily and quickly; nimble;

Demanding little effort; not burdensome;

Of little intensity or power or force;

(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average;

Weak and likely to lose consciousness;

Very thin and insubstantial;

Marked by temperance in indulgence;

Less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so;

Having little importance;

Intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound;

Silly or trivial;

Having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened;

Designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight;

Having relatively few calories;

(of sleep) easily disturbed;

Casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior;

With few burdens;

Travels at 299,792 km/s in a vacuum.

Carries energy in the form of photons.

Sound travels at approximately 343 m/s in air.

Yes, light can travel through a vacuum.

Yes, sound requires a medium like air or water.

Sound energy is carried by pressure waves.

Sound can be refracted or bent, especially when it enters a different medium.

No, the human eye can only detect a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Light travels at about 299,792 km/s in a vacuum.

Yes, light can be refracted or bent when it passes through different media.

Sound is considered a mechanical wave.

Yes, both can be reflected, but the mechanisms differ.

Light exhibits properties of both waves and particles.

No, humans can hear sounds between about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Light can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted by matter.

Light energy is carried by photons.

Sound can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted by matter.