Mechanical waves require a medium to transmit energy.
Mechanical Waves
Mechanical waves DO require a medium to transmit energy.
- Particles of a medium are needed to vibrate in order for energy to be transferred by mechanical waves.
What is a Medium?
Energy IS Transmitted Matter is NOT
Some Examples of Mechanical Waves
- Water waves, earthquake/seismic waves, sound waves, and the waves that travel down a rope or spring are types of mechanical waves because they require a medium to transmit energy.
Sound Waves are Mechanical Waves
- Sound waves, like all mechanical waves, cannot be transmitted through the vacuum of empty space because sound waves require a medium to transmit energy.
Sound waves are mechanical waves that do require a medium such as air to transmit energy and cannot be transmitted in a vacuum.
Mechanical Waves Can Be
Transverse OR Compressional Waves
Examples of Transverse Mechanical Waves
- Some examples of mechanical transverse waves might include waves created on a slinky spring moving up and down or side to side, waves on a rope, strings in a musical instrument, and some seismic waves from earthquakes.
- These particles travel up and down perpendicular to the direction the energy travels.
Examples of Compressional Mechanical Waves
- Some examples of mechanical compressional/longitudinal waves include sound waves and some other types of seismic waves from earthquakes.
- These particles travel back and forth parallel to the direction the energy travels.
Overview of Waves
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Topic Tips
- Mechanical waves such as sound waves require a medium to transmit energy.