The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Sound is a form of energy that propagates as a mechanical wave. It involves the transfer of energy through a medium due to the vibration of particles, without the actual transport of matter.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: In sound propagation, the particles of the medium do not move from the source to the listener. Instead, a vibrating source displaces adjacent particles, which then displace their neighbors before returning to their original positions. Consequently, it is the disturbance (energy) that travels through the medium, not the physical particles themselves.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Sound waves are classified as mechanical waves because they involve the oscillation of material particles and require a medium to exist. Non-mechanical waves, such as electromagnetic waves (e.g., light or X-rays), can propagate through a vacuum and do not require a material medium.
- Statement 3 is Correct: A material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) is mandatory for the transmission of sound. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles to transmit the vibration. This is classically demonstrated by the bell jar experiment, where sound ceases to be heard once the air is evacuated.
Key Takeaway: Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a material medium for propagation; the wave transmits energy through the medium via the local oscillation of particles, not by the physical movement of the medium itself.