Question

can you tell the difference between electromagnetic and mechanical waves? (choose 4)

waves can be described as a disturbance that travels through a medium from one location to another location. waves transmit energy, but not all waves are alike. we can categorize waves on the basis of the direction of movement of the individual particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the waves travel. a transverse wave is a wave in which particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the direction that the wave moves. as the energy is transported from left to right, but the medium will be displaced left to right, the medium will be displaced left and right as well, so longitudinal waves are always characterized by particle motion being parallel to wave motion. sound waves are an example of a longitudinal wave. the main parts of a longitudinal wave are the areas of compression and rarefaction.

another way to classify these waves is how they travel or are transmitted. electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum; mechanical waves cannot. a mechanical wave is a wave that is not capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum. they require a medium in order to transport their energy from one location to another. a sound wave is an example of a mechanical wave. the speed of these two waves, light and sound, varies with the medium they are passing through. a sound wave travels fastest through a solid because the particles are closest together in this state of matter and easier to compress back and forth. an electromagnetic wave travels fastest through a vacuum and slowest through a solid. an electromagnetic wave is formed by the vibrations of electric and magnetic fields. electromagnetic waves are made of discrete packets of energy called photons; therefore these waves have both particle - like and wave - like properties.

Explanation:

Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum and are transverse (particles of medium move perpendicular to wave - motion). Mechanical waves need a medium, can be transverse or longitudinal (particles move parallel or perpendicular to wave - motion). Speed of sound (mechanical) varies by medium, electromagnetic waves travel at light - speed in vacuum.

Answer:

Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum while mechanical waves cannot. The particles of the medium move perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer in a transverse electromagnetic wave, and mechanical waves can be either transverse or longitudinal where particle motion can be parallel or perpendicular to the wave direction. Also, the speed of mechanical waves varies with the medium (e.g., sound is fastest in solids), and electromagnetic waves travel at a constant speed in a vacuum (speed of light).