Waves provide a mechanism for the transfer of energy from one point to another, there is no transfer of any material between the points.
Waves can be classified as:
- Mechanical OR Electromagnetic
- Transverse OR Longitudinal
- Progressive(travelling) OR Stationary (standing)
Mechanical
- Require a medium for propagation
- Particles of medium oscillate but do not propagate
Electromagnetic
- Require no medium for propagation(can travel through vacuum)
- Wave motion is in the form of oscillating electric and magnetic fields
Transverse
- Particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction of the waves
- Does not require a medium for propagation
Longitudinal
- Particles oscillate parallel to the direction of propagation of the wave
- Requires a medium for propagation
Progressive (travelling)
- Energy of wave is transferred from one point to another
- Profile of wave appears to be moving although the particles in the medium do not get transported along with the wave
Stationary (Standing)
- Energy of the wave is not transferred from one point to another
- The profile of the wave does not appear to be moving
