What is the difference between Mechanical wave and Electro magnetic wave?
Difference between sound wave and light waves(radio wave)????(Tabular Form).
1) Difference between mechanical wave and electromagnetic wave: Unlike electromagnetic waves, mechanical waves need a medium to travel. Further, mechanical waves don't polarize but electromagnetic waves get polarized. Electromagnetic waves have electrical and magnetic components oscillating in mutually perpendicular direction where as mechanical waves propagatet in the form of compressions and rarefactions. Example of mechanical wave is sound. Example of electromagnetic wave is light .
2) Difference between sound waves and light waves:
2) Difference between sound waves and light waves:
Sound wave | Light wave | |
1. | Sound waves are mechanical waves. | Light waves are electromagnetic waves. |
2. | Its velocity in air is 340m/s. | Its velocity in air is 3×108 m/s. |
3. | These are logitudinal waves i.e. move in compression and rarefaction. | These are transverse waves i.e. move in crest and trough forms. |
4. | They need medium to travel. | They do not need medium to travel. |
5. | The denser the medium more will be speed of sound. | The denser the medium less will be the speed of light. |