answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

All waves move energy, not matter. All waves are created by vibrations. Mechanical waves are caused by vibrating matter such as vocal chords or a drum. EM waves are created by vibrating electrons in atoms that propogate through the electric and magnetic fields that exist everywhere in the universe. All waves can reflect, refract. and diffract. This is where the similarities end. Both types of waves interact with matter and experience a change in velocity but do not interact with each other. Mechanical waves require matter as a medium through which to travel, they don't travel through a vacum. EM waves travel best through a vacum and lose energy as they move into more dense matter. All waves refract when they change velocity as they move from one medium into another, like air into water. Remember, there are some similarities amongst all types of waves, EM, mechanical, surface, and siesmic, but their behaviors are quite varied and complex.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

5mo ago

Both mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves interact with a change in medium or boundary. This interaction can cause reflection, refraction, absorption, and transmission of the waves.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Both mechanical waves and EM waves interact with a change in what?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Physics

What do electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves have in common?

Both types of waves are forms of energy that transfer without the transfer of matter. They both involve oscillations or vibrations, but electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for propagation, while mechanical waves do.


What two types of energy travel in waves?

Electromagnetic energy and mechanical energy can both travel in waves. Electromagnetic waves include light and radio waves, while mechanical waves include sound waves and ocean waves.


How are water and sound waves alike?

Water waves and sound waves are both forms of mechanical waves that require a medium to travel through. They both involve the transfer of energy without the physical movement of particles. Additionally, they both exhibit characteristics such as frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.


What is true for both transverse and longitudinal wave?

Both transverse and longitudinal waves are types of mechanical waves that transfer energy through a medium. Additionally, they both exhibit characteristics such as wavelength and frequency that can be used to describe their properties.


What are some similarities and differences between mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves?

Similarities: Both types of waves transfer energy without the transfer of matter. They both can exhibit characteristics such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. Both types of waves can be reflected, refracted, and diffracted. Differences: Mechanical waves require a medium (such as air or water) to propagate, while electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum. Mechanical waves are typically slower than electromagnetic waves. Mechanical waves involve oscillations of particles in the medium, while electromagnetic waves involve oscillations of electric and magnetic fields.

Related questions

What do electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves have in common?

Both types of waves are forms of energy that transfer without the transfer of matter. They both involve oscillations or vibrations, but electromagnetic waves do not require a medium for propagation, while mechanical waves do.


Can both electromagnetic waves and mechanical waves move throgh space?

Yes, but mechanical waves need matter to travel through. EM waves can travel through vacuums as well.


What two types of energy travel in waves?

Electromagnetic energy and mechanical energy can both travel in waves. Electromagnetic waves include light and radio waves, while mechanical waves include sound waves and ocean waves.


How are water and sound waves alike?

Water waves and sound waves are both forms of mechanical waves that require a medium to travel through. They both involve the transfer of energy without the physical movement of particles. Additionally, they both exhibit characteristics such as frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.


What is true for both transverse and longitudinal wave?

Both transverse and longitudinal waves are types of mechanical waves that transfer energy through a medium. Additionally, they both exhibit characteristics such as wavelength and frequency that can be used to describe their properties.


What are some similarities and differences between mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves?

Similarities: Both types of waves transfer energy without the transfer of matter. They both can exhibit characteristics such as wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. Both types of waves can be reflected, refracted, and diffracted. Differences: Mechanical waves require a medium (such as air or water) to propagate, while electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum. Mechanical waves are typically slower than electromagnetic waves. Mechanical waves involve oscillations of particles in the medium, while electromagnetic waves involve oscillations of electric and magnetic fields.


How are electromagnetic waves different from mechanical waves How are they similar?

Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to propagate, while mechanical waves do. Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, while mechanical waves involve oscillations of particles in a medium. Both types of waves transfer energy and can be characterized by properties such as wavelength and frequency.


Which characteristics are shared by electromagnetic and mechanical waves?

Both electromagnetic and mechanical waves transport energy through a medium. They exhibit properties of reflection, refraction, interference, and diffraction. The speed of both types of waves depends on the medium through which they are traveling.


What can tell about the speed of two waves that have the same wavelength and frequency?

IF they're both mechanical waves or both electromagnetic waves, AND they'reboth moving through the same stuff, THEN they both have the same speed.


Does a longitudinal wave need a medium?

It is not so much longitudinal vs. transverse - it is the type of wave. Mechanical waves, by definition, travel through matter. That includes sound waves. Mechanical waves, however, can be both longitudinal and transverse - and both require a medium.


What is common between transverse waves and longitudinal waves?

Both transverse waves and longitudinal waves are types of mechanical waves that transfer energy through a medium. In both types of waves, particles within the medium oscillate to transmit the wave energy.


How are earthquakes and sound waves similar?

Both involve mechanical waves. The P waves generated in earthquakes can actually be considered to be extremely low frequency sound waves.