Wiggling a rope at one end makes the particles of the rope oscillate. The vacuum of outer space has essentially zero air. Electromagnetic Wave Easy Science Biology Facts Learn Biology Study Biology Can sound travel through vacuum. . No since sound waves need a medium to propagate themselves such as air or. There is no matter in a vacuum. Answer Waves are by definition the movement of particles due to energy passing through them. Conclusively sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum because they require a space consisting of matter to travel whether solid liquid or gas. Sound waves are longitudinal waves. They cause particles to vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel. What happens when a sound wave enters a vacuum. This is because the sound waves of the equipment require equipment such as air and water to move. Sound travels through the vibrations of molecules and atoms of a medium.