Question

Distinguish between mechanical and electromagnetic waves.

Answer 1

Electromagnetic waves	Mechanical waves
1. They can travel in vacuum.	1. They cannot travel in vacuum. They need a materia I medium for their propagation.
2. These are formed by the periodic vibrations of mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic field in a plane normal to the direction of wave propagation.	2. These are formed by the vibrations of the medium particles about their mean positions. These vibrations can be along the direction of propagation of wave or perpendicular to it..
3. These are traverse in nature.	3. These waves can be transverse as well as IonqitudnaI.