Mechanical Waves

Question 1

Generally, what is a mechanical wave?

Answer 1

Is a wave that needs a physical medium for it to transfer energy like sound

Question 2

If mechanical waves need a physical medium to transfer energy…

What medium can mechanical waves not travel through and why?

Answer 2

A vacuum (space) because there’s no air, water, NO PARTICLES AT ALL

Question 3

What can the physical medium property affect regarding to mechanical waves?

Answer 3

The effectiveness and the speed of energy transfer of the mechanical waves

Question 4

So, what property of the physical medium makes the energy transfer go faster and why?

There are 2 main ones

Answer 4

If the medium is high density (particles close together) because the oscillation can spread to other particles easier -> faster

If the medium is HOT because the oscillation can be quicker -> faster