Skip to content
Login Register

#mechanical waves

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

Production of EM Waves and Hertz Experiment

What distinguishes the mechanism of energy transfer in electromagnetic waves from that in mechanical waves?

**Production of EM waves** requires accelerated charge, oscillating LC circuit produces changing E and B, antenna radiates when charge accelerates, frequency determined by L and C, f=1/(2π√(LC)). Hertz used spark gap with inductor and capacitor, produced ~10⁸ Hz radio waves, detected with loop, confirmed transverse nature, reflection, refraction, polarization, speed c. Electromagnetic waves transfer energy via oscillating electric and magnetic fields without a medium, while mechanical waves require a medium and transfer energy through particle vibrations. Using c = fλ, E₀/B₀ = c, I_d = ε₀ dΦ_E

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Electromagnetic Waves > Production of EM Waves and Hertz Experiment

View Details
Wave Speed, Energy and Power

A string of mass 0.06 kg and length 3 m is under a tension of 150 N. How long does it take a transverse pulse to travel

**Wave speed on string** is v = √(T/μ), T tension (N), μ = m/L linear mass density (kg/m). Higher T increases restoring force raising speed, heavier μ lowers speed. Frequency follows f = v/λ, linking mechanical properties to wave dynamics and harmonic series. Linear mass density: μ = (0.06/3) = 0.02 kg/m . Speed: v = √((T/μ)) = √((150/0.02)) = √(7500) ≈ 86.6 m/s . Time: t = (length/v) = (3/86.6) ≈ 0.035 s . Using v = fλ and standing-wave condition fₙ = n v/(2L) or v/(4L) as applicable, calculation yields 0.035 s, illustrating frequency-length-speed interdependence and quantization by boundarie

Ref: NCERT > Physics Book > Waves > Wave Speed, Energy and Power

View Details