Answer to Question #114004 in Physics for PREM CHANDRA PAL

Question

How is the energy contained in a progressive wave different than the energy of vibration?

Answer 1

Waves move energy from one plane to another. In a progressive wave, the wave front moves through the medium and there is a flow of energy across every plane in the direction of propagation.

In a progressive wave, each particle of the medium executes vibration about its mean position. The disturbance progresses onward from one particle to another. The particles of the medium vibrate with same amplitude about their mean positions. There is a transfer of energy across the medium in the direction of propagation of progressive wave.

All things are made up of energy including ourselves, objects and thoughts. Energy can be transferred and converted but it cannot be created or destroyed. Vibration is the movement and motion of energy.

Vibrational energy is the energy in a vibrating, otherwise at rest; particularly that in a molecule due to vibrations of its atoms.