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Mechanical waves: -Must have a medium to propagate through -Can be transverse (water waves) or longitudinal (sound waves) -Can have any corresponding wavelength, period and wavelength (physical laws permitting) Electromagnetic waves: -Does not need a medium as the wave has wave/particle duality -Made up of photons (wave/particle duality again) -Always transverse -Always travels at the speed of light (therefore any wavelength will have a prescribd period)
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoMechanical waves need matter to transfer energy, while electromagnetic waves do not, they can travel through space, or a vaccum. Electromagnetic waves include the electromagnetic spectrum... (This includes visible light, radio waves, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, infra-red waves, and microwaves.) They both are able to travel through a medium of gas, liquid, or solid.
Also, electromagnetic waves have the weird quantum property of sometimes acting like waves, and sometimes acting like particles.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoAn electromagnetic wave is capable of passing through a vacuum (space). All light waves are electromagnetic waves. Mechanical waves are not able to pass through space. They require a medium to pass their energy from one place to another. An example of a mechanical wave is a sound wave.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoAll types of electromagnetic radiation consist of electric and magnetic fields varying at right angles to each other. All forms of electromagnetic radiation do not need a medium to travel though, they can travel through a vacuum. They are periodic disturbances of the electric and magnetic fields through which they travel. They all travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. They can all interfere constructively and destructively (superimpose) to produce interference patterns. All EM radiation can act as a wave or a photon Differences include the wavelengths and frequency and therefore the energy of each photon of these types of EM radiation.
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Is sound waves mechanical or waves?
Mechanical
Most waves that travel through a substance are what kind of waves?
Mechanical waves
Electromagnetic waves are not mechanical waves which means they can travel in a?
vacuum
Can Seismic waves travel through space?
NO! Seismic waves can't travel through space. They are mechanical waves. Mechanical waves require going through mediums and there isn't a medium in space.
What is the purpose of the middle ear?
To convert sound waves into mechanical waves
What determines where electromagnetic waves fall on the elctromagnetic spectrum?
Frequency determines this.
The energy produced by elctromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves carry energy from place to place, but they don't produce it. You have to produce the energy that you want them to carry.
Is sound waves mechanical or waves?
Mechanical
What is elctromagnetic energy?
Energy that is radiated in a wave such as radio waves, white light, uv light and xray.
How em waves different from mechanical waves?
Mechanical waves require a medium while Electromagnetic waves does not.
What do you call waves that require a medium A electromagnetic waves or B mechanical waves?
Mechanical waves, shock waves, etc.
Is a sound wave mechanical or electromagnetic?
Seismic waves are mechanical waves.
What is non mechanical wave?
Non mechanical waves are Eletro magnetic waves. We can devide 2 waves. 1 is mechanical waves & 2 is electromagnetic waves. For example Sound is a mechanical wave & Light is an electromagnetic wave.
How can you compare the energy of two different waves?
Energy waves can travel through a vacuum. Electromagnetic waves and gravity travel through space. Ocean waves are mechanical. That is to say that a wave that uses matter to continue it's travel using vibrations is mechanical. Those waves can't travel through a vacuum because there is no matter to utilize.
How are em waves different from mechanical waves?
mechanical waves need a medium to travel through, electromagnetic waves do not. Electromagnetic waves can travel through space, mechanical waves can not.:PElectromagnetic waves do not require a medium, but mechanical waves do.
Sound waves are examples of what?
sound waves are a example of mechanical waves
Is it true transverse and congressional waves are the two types of mechanical waves?
No. The 2 types of mechanical waves are transverse waves & longitudinal waves
