Mechanical Waves: Essential Properties of Medium for Propagation

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Mechanical waves, such as sound waves, require a medium to propagate, which can be solids, liquids, or gases. The essential property of this medium is its ability to respond to mechanical actions, as described by Hooke's Law, where increased distention leads to a proportional counter-force. This response allows for the energy of the wave to travel through the medium via compression and stretching of its molecules. The wave itself is not the entire medium moving, but rather the localized reaction of the medium's structure to the applied forces. Understanding these properties is crucial for analyzing how mechanical waves function in various environments.
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What are the essential properties of the medium for the propogation of mechanical waves?
 
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hi there
welcome to PF :)

a mechanical wave is a sound wave

so before I tell you
tell me what you know about sound waves and what they can propagate through ?

Dave
 
Sound waves can propgate through solids, liquids and gases. I think one should say that sound waves are mechanical waves and not vice versa because mechanical waves are general and sound waves are specific.
 
They are one in the same a mechanical action for example ... striking a hammer on metal produces a sound wave
... the mechanical action of the vibration of your vocal cords causes a sound waveI don't think I could name a sound wave that isn't caused by a mechanical actionDave
 
I believe the short answer to the OP question is: Hooke's Law.
No matter what the medium is, if you have a situation where distention increases the counter-force in a linear fashion, you will have a medium that allows wave propagation.
 
Mechanical waves are energy propagations across a structure through compression and stretching of the connected molecules making up the structure. The actual wave traveling is just the part of the structure that's currently reacting to the forces in order of next touching molecule and not the structure itself being moved
 

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