Types of Mechanical Waves

What are Waves?

Wave is the transmission of energy and momentum, with or without a material medium, from one location to another without physically moving the particles of the medium. The disturbance in the Wave travels through the medium due to repeated, rhythmic oscillations of the medium’s particles around their average position. The energy can travel through various forms, like elastic deformation of a medium particle, changes in pressure, or variations in electric and magnetic field intensity. A practical example is our reliance on waves for wireless communication. Our voice, converted into an electrical signal by the phone, travels through either copper wires or antennas in wireless communication. The entire process of transmitting a signal from the sender to the receiver occurs in a waveform....

Wave Parameters

There are various parameters related to waves some of these parameters are:...

Types of Waves

There are mainly three Types of Waves:...

Mechanical Waves

Mechanical Waves need a medium for their propagation, necessitating passage through a material. The particles of the medium, which remain constant, oscillating solely around their mean position, the waves themselves carry the energy forward. The transmission of these waves is fueled by the collision and energy exchange among molecules within the medium. Examples of mechanical waves are waves in a stretched string, sound waves, tsunami waves, and waves arising from the oscillation of a spring....

Types of Mechanical Waves

The Mechanical Wave further can be classified in two different types...

Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic Waves are capable to flow through a vacuum, devoid of any need for a medium. Electromagnetic Waves propagates through space independently, without relying on a material medium. These Waves are a form of energy discharged and absorbed by charged particles. As these Electromagnetic radiations travels through space, they show a wave-like behaviour, characterized by the presence of both magnetic and electric fields. These fields are perpendicular to each other and oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s propagation....

Matter Wave

The dual nature of matter was introduced by the French physicist De Broglie, who proposed that all matter possesses wave-like characteristics, termed as matter waves. According to this concept, when matter particles are in motion at higher velocities, they exhibit wave-like behavior. The associated wavelength of these matter waves is known as the De Broglie wavelength and is defined by the equation:...

Wave Speed Formula

Wave Speed, denoting the overall distance travelled by a wave within a specific timeframe, is calculated using the formula:...

Different Types of Waves

Waves are classified into various types based on their diverse features....

Classification Based on the Medium of Wave

Based on the medium of Wave Propagation, all waves can be classified as:...

Classification Based on the Limitations of Motions

Based on the limitation of motion, waves are classified as...

Classification Based on the Dimensions of Propagation

Waves show the diverse characteristics based on the number of dimensions through which they propagate energy. This classification distinguishes waves into three categories: One-Dimensional, Two-Dimensional, and Three-Dimensional....

Some Other Types of Waves

Other than all these discussed types, there are some more waves, such as:...

Solved Example on Types of Waves

Example 1: If the Time Period of a Wave is 0.5 seconds, what is the Frequency of the Wave?...

Practice Questions on Types of Waves

Q1. A Transverse Wave is transmitting energy from east to west. The movement of the particles in the medium will be:...

Types of Waves – FAQs

1. What is a Wave?...