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Introduction to Mechanical and Non-Mechanical Waves
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A basic, easy introduction to waves. This is for year 9 students or anyone wanting to learn waves or physics.
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SciTry - Mechanical waves and non-mechanicalwaves
By Aarshan Noor
Introduction
Have you ever been in the water and felt the water move up and down via waves which travel past you? If so,
you’ve witnessed the effects of waves. Also, did you know that in water waves don’t move forwards,
backwards, or even left and right, until they break?! They actually move up and down only, right up until they
start to break. If you want to learn more about waves, then ask no more, sit tight and prepare to be soaked in
these pieces of paper!
What are waves?
● Waves are back-and-forth motions that move energy from one place to another. The oscillations happen at
a fixed point, but the wave energy travels in a specific direction.
● There are two types of waves: mechanical waves and non-mechanical (electromagnetic) waves.
Mechanical waves
● Mechanical waves are oscillations that require a medium (something to transmit energy through).
The back-and-forth motions need the movement of particles within the medium.
● Hence, mechanical waves can move through solids, liquids and gases, but not through a vacuum.
● Examples of mechanical waves:
○ Sound waves
○ Seismic waves
○ Water waves
○ Waves created by moving objects like a rope or slinky spring
Non-mechanical (electromagnetic) waves
● Non-mechanical waves are oscillations that do not need a medium. Hence, they are not limited to only
travelling through physical matter.
One example is electromagnetic waves, which include oscillations in an electromagnetic field.
● Therefore, non-mechanical waves can move through solids, liquids and gases and a vacuum.
● Examples of non-mechanical, electromagnetic waves include:
○ Radio waves
○ Microwaves
○ Infrared radiation
○ Visible light
○ Ultraviolet radiation
○ X-rays
○ Gamma rays
● These examples are all part of the EM spectrum, which is an array of waves that require oscillations in the
electromagnetic field.
References
● https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/wavesinocean.html#:~:text=on%20the%20horizon.-,Waves%20are
%20created%20by%20energy%20passing%20through%20water%2C%20causing%20it,across%20an
%20entire%20ocean%20basin
● https://www.goodscience.com.au/topic/mechanical-waves-and-electromagnetic-waves-9ph-1-1-1/
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