Question

A student writes the following script for a scene in a futuristic movie.

A rocket ship is landing on the moon where many astronauts are already standing. As the rocket ship lands, the astronauts are overwhelmed by the loud noise of the rocket lowering towards them. When the ship lands, the astronauts can feel a vibration ripple through the moon’s surface beneath their feet.

What do you think is scientifically inaccurate about this scene? Explain why it is inaccurate.

Answer 1

The astronauts hearing the rocket landing is inaccurate. Sound waves can’t travel through a vacuum, meaning a place where there are no air particles. They are mechanical waves and require a medium to travel through. So, because there is no air in space, you can’t hear anything.