Question: If the entire setup shown in the image is placed in an ideal vacuum and the operation is repeated, how will the observer’s perception of the phenomenon in the rightmost panel change?
A. The observer will first see the sphere being knocked away, then, after a noticeable delay, hear the sound.
B. The white sphere will not move because energy cannot be transmitted in a vacuum.
C. The observer will see the white sphere being knocked away but will not perceive any corresponding sound.
D. Due to the lack of air resistance, the speed and distance of the white sphere’s motion will greatly increase.
Clues:
1. The image is a triptych showing three stages of an action.
2. In the leftmost panel, a mallet is positioned to strike a tuning fork.
3. In the middle panel, a white sphere hangs from a string, positioned next to the tuning fork.
4. In the rightmost panel, the white sphere is shown in blurred motion, moving away from the tuning fork.
5. The prongs of the tuning fork in the rightmost panel are depicted with motion blur, indicating vibration.
Answer: C
Category: Physics