A Short Note On Classification Of Wave Motion

Mechanical waves are the waves that travel through a physical medium that includes solid, liquid and gas. These waves travel at a certain wave speed that is dependent upon various factors like inertial properties and the elasticity of the medium through which the waves are travelling. However, particles passing through a certain medium pass as waves without propagating a net motion of the involved particles. This property implies that the particles passing through like a wave return to their initial position while exhibiting a net significant change in position. Resultantly, energy is propagated through the waves and not the matter itself.

Mechanical Waves: Definition and classification

Mechanical waves are the waves that propagate through a medium of material that includes solid, liquid and gas. It travels through a wave speed that is dependent upon significant properties of the particular medium, mainly relying upon its elastic and inertial properties. The mechanical waves are further subdivided into several categories based on their pattern of propagation.

• Longitudinal waves: In this pattern of wave motion the particle displacement is parallel to the direction in which the wave is travelling. The most notable example of this type of wave is the primary waves that are observed in earthquakes. These primary waves travel the fastest.
• Transverse waves: This pattern of waves incorporates a trait that states that the displacement in the particles is perpendicular in respect to the direction of the waves. In this case, the particles do not move along waves; they oscillate up and down in their equilibrium positions with the passage of the waves. The secondary waves of an earthquake display transverse waves
• Water waves: these types of waves are a combination of longitudinal and transverse waves. In this case, as the waves propagate through the water the particles travel in a clockwise direction in a circular motion.  The radius of the circles shrinks in size as the wave goes into further depth of the water
• Rayleigh surface waves: In the case of solid surfaces as well, a combination of longitudinal and transverse waves can be noticed. In solid the particles travel in an elliptical path. The width of the elliptical path decreases as the waves move down the depth of the solid. 

Energy transfer: discussion

The mechanical waves as it passes through the surface can also be termed as a disturbance that carries energy through that particular matter, thus allowing an amount of energy transfer through the medium The oscillation of the matter enables propagation of the energy from one point to the other. In case of energy transfers, the most effective energy transfer can be noticed through the water waves. In the case of water waves, the waves have significantly higher speeds and possess long wavelengths which are usually noticed in the cases of tsunamis; these waves contain the highest amount of energy. In the case of transverse waves, although the particles oscillate from top to bottom, the energy however is transferred from left to right.

Non-mechanical waves: discussion

Non-mechanical waves are the kind of waves that do not require any kind of medium to travel from one point to the other. Therefore, it is established that non-mechanical waves can also travel through a vacuum. The only example of such waves is electromagnetic waves. These types of waves are created from the fusion of magnetic and electric fields. These prime examples of electromagnetic waves are Microwaves, x-rays, Radio waves and ultraviolet rays. 

Conclusion 

Mechanical waves are classified as the waves that require a medium for their propagation, like solid, liquid and gas. The pattern of pathways of these waves is dependent upon the elasticity and inertial properties of the medium. The mechanical waves are further classified into various forms like longitudinal, transverse, water and surface waves. These waves have their distinct property of propagation concerning the particles involved. In the longitudinal waves, the particles displace parallelly with the motion of the waves. In the case of transverse waves, the particles oscillate from top to bottom. The water waves and Rayleigh surface waves displayed a combination of longitudinal and transverse waves. In the case of water waves, the particles move in a clockwise direction and in surface waves the particles follow an elliptical path of motion. The only non-mechanical waves are the electromagnetic waves that do not require any medium for their propagation.