Distinguish between mechanical and electromagnetic waves.
Differences between mechanical and electromagnetic waves are:
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Mechanical waves |
Electromagnetic waves |
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1. The waves require a material medium for their propagation. |
1. These waves do not require a material medium for their propagation. |
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2. These are caused due to vibrations of the particles of the medium. |
2. These are caused due to varying electric and magnetic fields. |
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3. These waves have low speeds, e.g. speed of sound in air is 332 m/s at 0°C. |
3. These waves travel with a very high speed of 3 x 108 m/s through vacuum. |
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4. These waves have usually low frequency and large wavelength. |
4. These waves have usually high frequency and low wavelength. |
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5. These can be transverse or longitudinal. |
5. These are only trnasverse waves. |
