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Mechanical Waves
 
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The medium itself does not travel as a wave. Its constituent particles undergo back and forth/up and down motion around an equilibrium point.

What does travel is the pattern of the wave disturbance. We have to put energy into a system to set the wave in motion.

Waves transport energy from
one place to another.

Waves do not transport matter from
one place to another.

The disturbance travels with a definite speed determined by the mechanical properties of the medium.
 
    Sound Wave
Water Wave
 
Acoustics Animations   Dr. Dan Russell Kettering    University Applied Physics
Periodic Motion

velocity = wavelength x frequency
 
 
Reflections of a Wave

From a fixed end the incident wave will reflect 180° out of phase. The reflected wave will be inverted.

From a free end the incident wave will reflect in phase. The reflected wave will not be inverted.
Standing Waves and Normal Modes