Mechanical Waves

Definition

Mechanical waves are waves that require a medium (such as air, water, or solids) to travel through. They transfer energy by causing particles in the medium to vibrate.

Analogy

Imagine a line of people holding hands and passing along a wave by shaking their arms up and down. The people represent the particles in the medium, and their arm movements represent the vibrations that carry the wave.

Related terms

Sound Waves: Sound waves are a type of mechanical wave that travel through air or other materials and allow us to hear sounds.

Transverse Waves: Transverse waves are mechanical waves where the particles in the medium move perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Longitudinal Waves: Longitudinal waves are mechanical waves where the particles in the medium move parallel to the direction of wave propagation.