Difference between Mechanical and Electromagnetic waves
Mechanical waves
1.) The wave which requires material medium for its propagation is called as mechanical wave.
2.) During propagation of mechanical waves in medium, energy is transferred from one place to another place.
3.) Though energy is transferred in mechanical wave, particles do not change its position, they just vibrates about their mean position.
4.) Mechanical waves depend upon the elasticity of medium.
5.) Vibrations produced in the mechanical wave are periodic i.e. it repeats itself after fixed time interval.
6.) Mechanical waves are divided into two types, viz; longitudinal wave and transverse wave.
7.) Eg. Sound waves, ripples produced in water, seismic waves are some important types of mechanical wave.
Electromagnetic waves
1.) The wave which does not requires material medium for its propagation is called as electromagnetic wave.
2.) During propagation of electromagnetic waves in medium, energy is transferred from one place to another place.
3.) Electric vector and magnetic vectors oscillates perpendicular to each other to carry the energy through the space (vacuum).
4.) Electromagnetic waves don’t depend upon the elasticity of medium.
5.) Vibrations of electric vectors and magnetic vectors are time independent.
6.) Electromagnetic waves travel with high speed, equal to speed of light.
7.) Eg. Light waves, ultraviolet rays are the some important examples of electromagnetic waves.