Question

Do mechanical waves lose energy as they travel through a medium? Why/Why not?

Answer 1

As a mechanical wave travels through a medium, it loses energy to the medium. The molecules in the medium are forced to vibrate back and forth, generating heat. Consequently, the wave can only propagate through a limited distance. When this event happens, we say that the wave is damped. Damping can be observed by the fact that the wave's amplitude has decreased. A mechanical wave requires an initial energy input. Once this initial energy is added, the wave travels through the medium until all its energy is transferred. In contrast, electromagnetic waves require no medium, but can still travel through one.