Sound Cannot Travel Through Space

Story 9 of 10

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Verb Adjective Adverb Expression

In science-fiction films, huge explosions in space are usually accompanied by a deafening roar. In reality, though, this could never happen, because space is completely silent. Sound simply cannot travel through the emptiness between the stars.

The reason lies in how sound works. Sound moves as a vibration that passes from one particle to another, which is why it needs a medium such as air or water. Since space is a near-vacuum with almost no particles, there is nothing for the vibrations to move through. So if a star exploded far away, no matter how violent the blast, it would reach us in perfect silence.

Vocabulary from this story

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explosions
portlashlar
accompanied
hamroh boʻladi
deafening
quloqni qomatga keltiradigan
roar
gulduros
silent
jimjit
emptiness
boʻshliq
vibration
tebranish
particle
zarra
medium
muhit
violent
shiddatli, kuchli
blast
portlash

Grammar from this story

Key patterns that appeared in the text.

though (mid/end-sentence contrast)

Ammo, shunga qaramay — gap oʻrtasida yoki oxirida keluvchi ‘but’ maʼnosi.

  • In reality, though, this could never happen.
  • It's cold today. It's sunny, though.

since (reason)

...ligi sababli, chunki (maʼlum sababni bildiradi).

  • Since space has almost no particles, sound cannot travel.
  • Since it was late, we took a taxi.

Check your understanding

Read the story, then choose the best answer. Tap a choice to check it.

1. Why are explosions in space actually silent?

2. What does sound need in order to travel?

3. What would happen if a distant star exploded?