Mechanical Waves

Mechanical Waves

1. A periodic disturbance* transferring energy from beginning of a source to the end

   • *repeats in a regular fashion

2. NOT A SOURCE OF ENERGY, just a means of energy transfer

   • Kinetic energy of particles is the energy of the wave.

3. A wave has THREE PARTS

   • BEGINNING: the source of wave, provides energy to the w*ave, provides the periodic motion*
     • *up and down of wave
   • END: the receiver of the wave, what the wave strikes, receives energy
   • MIDDLE: the wave itself, transfers the energy

4. MONOFREQUENT: just one frequency

5. TYPES OF WAVES

   • MECHANICAL: Can only travel through a substance, matter needed
     • TRANSVERSE
     • LONGITUDINAL: vibrate backward and forward,
   • ELECTROMAGNETIC: Travels best in a vacuum, no matter is needed
     • LONGITUDINAL
     • TRANSVERSE