1. Mechanical Waves
2. The Tangible Touch of Waves
Mechanical waves are the "touchy-feely" type. They need a medium — like air, water, or a solid — to travel. Think of sound waves traveling through air to reach your ears, or seismic waves rumbling through the Earth after an earthquake. These waves are all about the movement of matter.
Imagine a crowd doing "the wave" at a stadium. Each person moves up and down, but the wave itself travels horizontally across the stands. That's kind of how mechanical waves work: the individual particles of the medium vibrate, transferring energy along the wave. No medium, no wave — simple as that.
There are two main types of mechanical waves: transverse and longitudinal. Transverse waves, like those on a guitar string, vibrate perpendicular to the direction the wave is traveling. Longitudinal waves, like sound waves, vibrate parallel to the direction of travel, compressing and expanding the medium as they go.
So, the next time you're enjoying a concert, or feeling the rumble of a passing train, remember that you're experiencing the power of mechanical waves in action. They're a fundamental part of our everyday lives, even if we don't always realize it.
