Light energy is produced by what type of waves?

Light energy is produced by electromagnetic waves. This is because electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space and can travel through a vacuum. The visible spectrum, which is the range of electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye, includes light waves that are responsible for visible light.

Mechanical waves, on the other hand, require a medium (like air, water, or solids) to travel and cannot propagate through a vacuum. Sound waves fall under this category; they are vibrations that travel through a medium, producing auditory sensations but not light energy. Gravity waves, which are ripples in spacetime caused by massive accelerating bodies, are distinct from electromagnetic waves and do not produce light energy.

Thus, understanding that light, or electromagnetic radiation, can exist as both a wave and a particle (photon), is crucial in recognizing why electromagnetic waves are responsible for emitting light energy.