What is a mechanical wave?
In this post, we conduct a practical investigation involving the creation of mechanical waves in a variety of situations in order to explain the role of the medium in the propagation of mechanical waves and the transfer of energy involved in the propagation of mechanical waves, as part of the Prelim Physics course under the module Waves and Thermodynamics and sub-part Wave Properties. A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter and thus transfers energy through a medium, meaning it is not capable of transmitting its energy inside a vacuum.
The following three videos introduce you to the topic of waves, and its associated vocabulary and terms you should know. The third video demonstrates an example of the creation of waves, showing the transfer of energy involved in the propagation of waves.
Part 1: Crash Course travelling waves
Part 2: Introduction to waves
