Do compressional waves need a medium? if so which one would be the fastest ans slowest medium.

Scientists use laser range-finding to measure the distance to the moon with great accuracy. a brief laser pulse is fired at the moon, then the time interval is measured until the "echo" is seen by a telescope. a laser beam spreads out as it travels because it diffracts through a circular exit as it leaves the laser. in order for the reflected light to be bright enough to detect, the laser spot on the moon must be no more than 1.0 km in diameter. staying within this diameter is accomplished by using a special large-diameter laser. part a if λ = 540nm , what is the minimum diameter of the circular opening from which the laser beam emerges? the earth-moon distance is 384,000 km. express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

In what direction does the medium move relative to the direction of the wave? explain.

Amichelson interferometer operating at a 600 nm wavelength has a 3.02-cm-long glass cell in one arm. to begin, the air is pumped out of the cell and mirror m2 is adjusted to produce a bright spot at the center of the interference pattern. then a valve is opened and air is slowly admitted into the cell. the index of refraction of air at 1.00 atm pressure is 1.00028.how many bright-dark-bright fringe shifts are observed as the cell fills with air?