do waves carry matter?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

ronaldo23

The Truth
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Messages
994
Reaction score
0
one AAMc question was like what do mechanical waves carry. The answer was energy, but not matter.

For a BR question, however, they say waves carry energy and momentum. They say if a wave has energy, it inherently has momentum as p=mv, and so by this same logic, wouldn't it seem that waves are also carrying matter?
 
one AAMc question was like what do mechanical waves carry. The answer was energy, but not matter.

For a BR question, however, they say waves carry energy and momentum. They say if a wave has energy, it inherently has momentum as p=mv, and so by this same logic, wouldn't it seem that waves are also carrying matter?

If you think about a longitudinal wave in a medium, then momentum can be transferred by a series of in-line collisions while the particles themselves return to their original position after the collisions. Overall the particles don't have any net movement, but they transfer their kinetic energy and momentum to their neighbors, so they must be able to carry energy and momentum both.
 
If you think about a longitudinal wave in a medium, then momentum can be transferred by a series of in-line collisions while the particles themselves return to their original position after the collisions. Overall the particles don't have any net movement, but they transfer their kinetic energy and momentum to their neighbors, so they must be able to carry energy and momentum both.


+1

If there is any change in the position of matter you need to use the equations of mechanics.
 

Similar threads

Top