What Makes Light Waves Different from Mechanical Waves?

AI Thread Summary
Light waves are classified as transverse waves, while mechanical waves can be either transverse or longitudinal. Mechanical waves require a medium to propagate, such as air for sound waves or water for waves on a surface. In contrast, light waves do not need a material medium; they propagate through oscillations in electromagnetic fields. The confusion arises from the definition of transverse waves, which can apply to both mechanical and non-mechanical contexts. Ultimately, light waves are distinct from mechanical waves due to their non-reliance on a material medium for propagation.
Aadrish
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i have a huge problem. the issue is
" light waves are transverse waves . transverse and longitudinal are the example of mechanical waves . while light waves are not mechanical waves"
can some one explain me
 
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Aadrish said:
" light waves are transverse waves . transverse and longitudinal are the example of mechanical waves . while light waves are not mechanical waves"
can some one explain me

"mechanical" means that there's some material that oscillates

in a sound wave in air, each bit of the air moves forwards and backwards in the direction the wave is moving …

that's longitudinal​

in a wave on water or on a rope, each bit of the water surface or the rope moves up and down (but does not move in the direction the wave is moving)…

that's transverse​

but with light, there's no material to oscillate :wink: …

it's the field (non-mechanical) that oscillates up and down​
 
so why light waves are transverse as we know that transverse waves are mechanical waves so why we deal light as mechanical wave?
 
Aadrish said:
… we know that transverse waves are mechanical waves …

that's not true :frown:

where did you get that from?​
 

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