Electromagnetic and Mechanical Waves

How do electromagnetic and mechanical waves compare?

• Mechanical waves can only travel through a vacuum, but electromagnetic waves can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas.

• Mechanical waves can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, but electromagnetic waves can only travel through a gas.

• Mechanical waves can only travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, but electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.

• Mechanical waves can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, but electromagnetic waves can only travel through a solid.

A student asks a series of questions about a wave. The answer to which question will allow the student to determine whether the wave is electromagnetic or mechanical?

• Does it require a medium in order to travel?

• Can it pass through air and water?

• Does it have a measurable speed?

• Does it have a measurable frequency?

A student is measuring the distance between the crest and the rest position of both a mechanical wave and an electromagnetic wave. Which question is the student trying to answer?

• What is the speed of the waves?

• What is the amplitude of the waves?

• What is the wavelength of the waves?

• What is the frequency of the waves?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Which distance represents the wavelength?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-1

Drag the statement to the proper place on the Venn diagram about waves.

e

f

g

h

d

c

b

a

travel at speed of light

includes visible light

transverse or longitudinal

transfers energy only

must have a medium

example: sound waves

go through a vacuum

only transverse waves

Tags

PS.6.a

PS.6.b

PS.6.d

What type of wave can travel through medium or through a vacuum?

• Electromagnetic

• Mechanical

• Longitudinal

• Compressional

The main difference between mechanical and electromagnetic waves are

• their color

• mechanical waves need a medium

• their frequency

• both require a medium

A wave that requires a medium to travel.

• Mechanical

• Electromagnetic

The type of wave that requires a medium to travel is

• Mechanical

• Electromagnetic

• Both of these

• Neither of these

A ______ wave DOES need a medium to travel through

• Mechanical

• Electromagnetic