Mechanical Waves

Mechanical waves are a type of wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium. The medium can be a solid, liquid, or gas. Mechanical waves can be classified into three main types: transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and surface waves.

Transverse Waves

Transverse waves are waves in which the particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of the wave. An example of a transverse wave is a wave on a string.

Longitudinal Waves

Longitudinal waves are waves in which the particles of the medium move parallel to the direction of the wave. An example of a longitudinal wave is sound waves.

Surface Waves

Surface waves are waves that occur at the boundary between two different mediums, such as water and air. An example of a surface wave is ocean waves.

Properties of Mechanical Waves

Mechanical waves have several properties, including wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. The wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points in a wave that are in phase, and the frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second. The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a particle from its rest position.

Study Guide

1. What are mechanical waves?
2. What are the three main types of mechanical waves?
3. Give an example of a transverse wave.
4. Give an example of a longitudinal wave.
5. What are surface waves? Provide an example.
6. What are the properties of mechanical waves?
7. Define wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.