AKS 9B - Electromagnetic vs. Mechanical Waves

Electromagnetic vs. Mechanical Waves

​Types of Waves

• Waves may be categorized based on whether or not they need a medium.

• ​There are two types of waves:

  • 1.) Mechanical waves: require a medium (matter) to travel.

    2.) Electromagnetic (EM) waves: do NOT require a medium to travel.

Multiple Choice

1. A type of wave that is not capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum.

• A. transverse
• B. longitudinal
• C. mechanical
• D. electromagnetic

Multiple Choice

2. How does the Energy from the sun reaches the earth?

• a. ultraviolet waves
• b. infrared waves
• c. mechanical waves
• d. electromagnetic waves

​Mechanical waves

• ​These require a medium for the vibrations to travel and so cannot travel through space (vacuum)

• ​

• ​May either move as transverse or longitudinal waves.

• ​

• ​Ex. sound, water wave, slinky,

Multiple Choice

S8P4 a. When a mechanical wave travels through a medium,

• energy and matter remain in one place.

• matter is transferred from one place to another.

• energy is transferred from one place to another.

• matter and energy move from one place to another.

​​Mechanical waves

• ​The speed at which they travel depends on either the type of wave or the medium they are in.

• ​

• ​They travel fastest in more dense medium. Therefore, they move fastest in solids and slowest in gases.

• ​

• ​Generally, these have longer wavelengths than electromagnetic waves.

Multiple Choice

S8P4 a. When sound travels through air, the air particles vibrate

• in the direction of the wave.

• in all different directions.

• perpendicular to the wave.

• in a circular motion.

Multiple Choice

A stretched spring attached to two fixed points is compressed on one end and released, as shown in the picture. The resulting wave travels back and forth between the two fixed ends of the spring until it comes to a stop.  This mechanical wave is an example of a

• longitudinal wave
• transverse wave
• superpositioned wave
• refracted wave

​Electromagnetic Wave

• ​A waves that does NOT require a medium (matter to travel), has an electric field component and a magnetic field component.

​

• ​These two fields move perpendicular to the propagation of the wave and so they are all transverse waves

Multiple Choice

Which of these is the best way to produce a longitudinal wave?

• heating a block of iron
• freezing a tray of water
• squeezing and releasing a metal spring
• shaking a rope up and down

​Electromagnetic waves

• ​All electromagnetic waves travels at the speed of light 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s in a VACUUM. However, they travels at different speeds when traveling through matter.

• They travel fastest in less dense medium, so fastest in gases and slowest in solids.

• Ex: Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, and Gamma Ray.

Multiple Choice

What kind of wave is this?

• Transverse
• Longitudinal

​Electromagnetic Spectrum

• ​Shows a visual display of various electromagnetic waves to compare their relative wavelengths and frequencies.

Multiple Choice

What kind of wave is this?

• Transverse Wave
• Longitudinal Wave

Multiple Choice

Which type of waves must have a medium in order to travel?

• electromagnetic wave

• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

A sound wave moving through the air is what kind of wave?

• a Longitudinal
• water wave
• a transverse wave
• hand wave

Multiple Choice

Mechanical waves usually travel fastest through:

• solids

• liquids

• gases

Multiple Choice

Which direction does a Transverse wave travel

• parallel
• perpendicular

Multiple Choice

What type of wave is this?

• Electromagnetic

• Mechancial

• Both Electromagnetic and Mechanical

Multiple Choice

Which direction does a compressional wave travel

• parallel
• perpendicular

Multiple Choice

A microwave is an example of what type of wave?

• electromagnetic wave

• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

All waves carry

• energy
• light 
• matter
• particles

Multiple Choice

A water wave is an example of what type of wave?

• electromagnetic wave

• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

Which one is an example of a transverse wave

• Punching a bag

• Loud Music

• Sneezing

• Water Waves

Multiple Choice

Wave with the longest wavelength

• microwave
• radio
• gamma
• visible light

Multiple Choice

A wave that requires a medium through wave which to travel

• A. electromagnetic  wave
• B. longitudinal wave
• C. mechanical wave
• D. transverse wave

Multiple Choice

When the wavelength increases the frequency will

• increase

• decrease

• remain same

• none of these

Multiple Choice

A wave that does not require a medium

• A. electromagnetic  wave. 
• B. surface wave
• C. medium
• D. transverse wave

Multiple Choice

Electromagnetic waves  

• Must travel through a vacuum

• Can travel through a medium or a vacuum

• Are the same type of wave as mechanical waves

• Can only travel through a vacuum

Multiple Choice

A wave in which the particles of the medium move perpendicularly to the direction the wave is traveling

• A. surface wave
• B. transverse wave
• C. electromagnetic  wave
• D. longitudinal wave

Multiple Choice

All electromagnetic waves have the same...

• frequency
• speed
• wavelength
• energy

Multiple Choice

Waves are categorized by:
*whether or not they require a medium to move through (EM vs mechanical) OR
*how the particles move in relation to the movement of the wave (transverse vs longitudinal).
A wave that requires a medium to move through is called a
(NOTE: Take time to study the chart before answering.)

• longitudinal wave
• transverse wave
• electromagnetic wave
• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

When a wave is travelling through matter, what happens to the matter?

• The matter is pulled along behind the wave as that makes it a longitudinal wave.

• The wave is making the matter move back and forth as that will make a transverse wave.

• The wave is making the matter move up and down.

• The matter is pulled along behind the wave as that makes it a compressional wave.

• The matter does not move along with the wave.

Multiple Choice

Waves are categorized by:
*whether or not they require a medium to move through (EM vs mechanical) OR
*how the particles move in relation to the movement of the wave (transverse vs longitudinal).
A wave that does NOT require a medium (can move through empty space) is a

• longitudinal wave
• transverse wave
• electromagnetic wave
• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

It depends on the medium in which the wave is traveling. It varies in solids, liquids and gases.

• Frequency

• Wave speed

• Amplitude

• Wavelength

Multiple Choice

Waves are categorized by:
*whether or not they require a medium to move through (EM vs mechanical) OR
*how the particles move in relation to the movement of the wave (transverse vs longitudinal).
A wave in which the particles of the medium move up and down in relation to the wave is called a

• longitudinal wave
• transverse wave
• electromagnetic wave
• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

Which wave in the diagram has the greatest wavelength?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Waves are categorized by:
*whether or not they require a medium to move through (EM vs mechanical) OR
*how the particles move in relation to the movement of the wave (transverse vs longitudinal).
A wave in which the particles of the medium move back and forth along the path of the wave is called a

• longitudinal wave
• transverse wave
• electromagnetic wave
• mechanical wave

Multiple Choice

Light waves are categorized as

• mechanical & transverse
• mechanical & longitudinal
• electromagnetic & transverse
• electromagnetic & longitudinal

Multiple Choice

Sound waves are categorized as

• mechanical & transverse
• mechanical & longitudinal
• electromagnetic & transverse
• electromagnetic & longitudinal