Which explanation best describes a wave?

A.

a disturbance that travels through a medium with a transfer of energy and matter

B.

a disturbance that travels through a medium without a transfer of energy and matter

C.

a disturbance that travels through a medium with a transfer of energy and without a transfer of matter

D.

a disturbance that travels through a medium with a transfer of matter and without a transfer of energy

E.

a disturbance that travels only in the absence of a material medium

C. a disturbance that travels through a medium with a transfer of energy and without a transfer of matter

Explanation:

First: A wave is a disturbance. The disturbance is a vibration, a pulse. If you think in particles, by vibrating one particle causes the a neighboor particle to vibrate too.

Second: A wave travels through a medium, like water, air, solid matter, which is the case of mechanical waves (for instance sound and water warves) and electromagnetic waves (light). Mechanical waves only travel trhough a medium, electromagnetic waves can travel through a medium or through empty space. That is how the sun light can travels trhough space and arrive to our planet.

Third: Waves transfer energy but not matter. Waves move around an equilibrium position but the matter is not translated.