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Question
Why are sound wave are called mechanical wave
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Solution
Sound waves are mechanical waves because they need a material medium for propagation, like air or liquids like water, or metals like silver. That is the defining criterion for a mechanical wave, and the answer to your question.
The other type of waves, called electromagnetic waves (like light) do not need a material medium to travel, and can even go through vacuum.
When traveling through air, sound waves propagate in the form of pressure variations wherein high-pressure regions calledcompressions alternate with low pressure regions called rarefactions
Sound waves are mechanical waves because they need a material medium for propagation, like air or liquids like water, or metals like silver. That is the defining criterion for a mechanical wave, and the answer to your question.
The other type of waves, called electromagnetic waves (like light) do not need a material medium to travel, and can even go through vacuum.
When traveling through air, sound waves propagate in the form of pressure variations wherein high-pressure regions calledcompressions alternate with low pressure regions called rarefactions
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