What distinguishes the wavelength of visible light from that of a moving soccer ball?

The distinction between the wavelengths of visible light and those associated with a moving soccer ball lies in the nature of their respective waves. Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, characterized by its ability to travel through a vacuum without the need for a medium. It consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and has wavelengths ranging from approximately 380 to 750 nanometers.

In contrast, a soccer ball, when moving, does not propagate in the form of a wave with a distinct wavelength in the same sense as electromagnetic radiation does. Instead, the movement of a soccer ball can create sound waves or air disturbances, but these are mechanical waves, reliant on a medium (air) for propagation. Mechanical waves have different properties and do not fit the criteria of electromagnetic waves, which is why they cannot be categorized in the same way.

Thus, visible light's classification as electromagnetic radiation is what specifically distinguishes it from the movement of a soccer ball, which does not possess a wavelength in the context used for light.