Mechanical Waves and Electromagnetic Waves

 

Mechanical Waves

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A mechanical wave is a periodic disturbance, which requires a material medium (solid, liquid or gas) for its propagation. These waves are also known as elastic waves because their propagation depends upon the elastic properties of the medium through which they pass. Examples for mechanical waves are sound waves and water waves. In these waves, the particles of the medium just vibrate to and fro about their mean position.

Requisites of the medium to propagate mechanical waves

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The medium must possess the following properties for the propagation of the waves:

• The medium should be able to return to its original condition after being disturbed, i.e., the medium must possess elasticity.

• The medium must be capable of storing energy.

• The frictional resistance must be negligible so as not to damp the oscillatory movement.

Electromagnetic waves

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An electromagnetic wave is a disturbance, which does not require any material medium for its propagation and can travel even through vacuum. They are caused due to varying electric and magnetic fields.

Radio waves and light waves are examples for electromagnetic waves.

Let us now tabulate the differences between the mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

Mechanical Waves	Electromagnetic Waves
Mechanical waves need a material medium for their propagation.	Electromagnetic waves do not need any material medium for their propagation.
These waves are produced due to the vibrations of the particles of the medium.	They are caused due to change in electric and magnetic fields.
They have low speed	They have high speed