Why does all energy travel in waves?

In summary, all forms of energy, including bullets and photons, have wave-like characteristics due to the nature of waves being created when something is moved away from its equilibrium position and then returns to it, resulting in a pattern of movement that travels along a line. This holds true for things like electrical current, which may be represented by a sine wave graph, but in reality is just the movement of electrons in a conductor. However, mechanical waves, unlike light, do not travel in a wave pattern, but rather through compression and rarefaction.
  • #1
DARKSYDE
50
0
i understand what a sine wave is, as well as the hertz. but I am curious as to why all energy travels in a wave and not a straight line.
 
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  • #2
All energy?
A bullet fired has increased energy. Right?
The bullet does not travel in a sine wave pattern.

Still, I assume you are talking more about things such as photons which, though, most certainly traveling in a straight line(generalized), do indeed have sine-wave components.
An interesting question.
 
  • #3
Generally speaking, waves occur when something has been moved away from an equilibrium position, then some kind of restoring force makes it returns to the equilibrium position, but its inertia makes it overshoot the center and it swings too far in the opposite direction, then it returns toward the center, but overshoots the center again, etc., etc. If this pattern moves along a line and travels, we get a wave.
 
  • #4
are you talking about the de broglie hypothesis.
 
  • #5
The current in the graph that you see (sine wave) is just a graph of t v/s current or potential...in reality it's just electrons moving in the conductor...that graph does not show any flow...it's just aaa...a graph...you know.

Mechanical waves, for e.g. do not travel in "waves"...I mean unlike the case with light, it moves with compression and rarefactions.
 

1. Why do all energy waves travel at the same speed?

All energy waves, including light, sound, and radio waves, travel at the same speed because they are all made up of electromagnetic radiation. This means they are all composed of the same fundamental particles, called photons, which travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.

2. What determines the frequency of an energy wave?

The frequency of an energy wave is determined by the rate at which the source of the wave, such as an atom or an electron, oscillates or vibrates. The faster the source vibrates, the higher the frequency of the wave will be.

3. How do energy waves transfer energy?

Energy waves transfer energy through the interaction between electric and magnetic fields. As the wave travels, these fields oscillate and cause particles in their path to vibrate, transferring energy from one particle to the next.

4. Can all types of energy travel in waves?

Yes, all forms of energy, including light, sound, heat, and electromagnetic radiation, can travel in waves. This is because all energy is fundamentally made up of particles that can vibrate and create waves.

5. What happens to energy waves when they encounter a different medium?

When energy waves encounter a different medium, such as air or water, they can be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted through the medium. The speed and direction of the waves may also change depending on the properties of the medium.

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