| Name | Transverse | Longitudinal | Medium Required | Propagation Speed (m/s) | Min Frequency (Hz) | Max Frequency (Hz) | Common Sources | Primary Uses or Effects | Key Characteristics | Examples | Impact on Environment/Humans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electromagnetic Waves | True | False | False | 299792458 | Varies | Varies | Sun, radio transmitters | Communication, medical imaging, cooking | Can travel in vacuum and through transparent media | Radio broadcasts, X-rays | Varies; UV can cause skin cancer |
| Sound Waves | False | True | True | 343 | 20 | 20000 | Vibrating objects | Communication, music, sonar | Travels through elastic media | Talking, concerts, ultrasound imaging | Noise pollution can affect health and well-being |
| Seismic Waves | True | True | True | 3500 | Varies | Varies | Earthquakes, explosions | Earthquake engineering, oil exploration | Can cause significant ground movement | Earthquakes, nuclear testing | Can cause extensive property damage and loss of life |
| Gravitational Waves | True | False | False | 299792458 | 0.0001 | Varies | Colliding black holes, neutron stars | Astronomy, testing theories of gravity | Ripples in spacetime | Facilitated by LIGO and other observatories | None known; mostly relevant for astrophysics |
| Thermal Waves | False | True | True | Varies | Varies | Varies | Heating elements, sun | Heating, climate control | Move through conduction, convection, or radiation | Heat in homes, atmospheric heat waves | Heat waves can cause health issues and environmental stress |
| Chemical Waves | False | True | True | Varies | Varies | Varies | Chemical reactions | Chemical processing, biological signaling | Propagation of reaction and diffusion | Calcium waves in cells, Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction | Can be critical in biological processes |
| Combustion Waves | False | True | True | Varies | Varies | Varies | Fire, explosions | Fire safety, controlled burns | Propagation of fire through combustible materials | Wildfires, controlled burns | Can cause massive destruction and pollution |
| Name | Follows Inverse Square Law | Complex Attenuation | Other Attenuation Patterns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electromagnetic Waves | True | False | False |
| Sound Waves | True | False | False |
| Seismic Waves | False | True | False |
| Gravitational Waves | True | False | False |
| Thermal Waves | False | False | True |
| Chemical Waves | False | False | True |
| Combustion Waves | False | True | False |
Chemical reaction wave:
https://youtu.be/s2np2PaaWtU?t=75
| Speed (meters per second, power of 10) | Name |
|---|---|
| 10^8 | Gravitational Waves |
| 10^8 | Electromagnetic Waves |
| 10^3 to 10^4 | Detonation Waves (Combustion) |
| 10^2 | Sound Waves |
| 10^1 to 10^2 | Deflagration Waves (Combustion) |
| 10^3 | Seismic Waves |
| 10^2 to 10^3 | Thermal Waves (Heat Pulses) |
| 10^-3 to 10^-2 | Chemical Waves |
| EM Waves | M/S (Powers of 10) |
|---|---|
| EM Waves | 8 |
| Gamma Rays | 8 |
| X-Rays | 8 |
| Ultraviolet (UV) Waves | 8 |
| Visible Light Waves | 8 |
| Infrared Waves | 8 |
| Microwaves | 8 |
| Radio Waves | 8 |
| Sound Waves (in air) | 2 |
| Sound Waves (in water) | 3 |
| Seismic Waves (P-waves) | 3 |
| Seismic Waves (S-waves) | 3 |
| Gravity Waves | 8 |
| Surface Water Waves | 1 |
| Capillary Waves | -1 |
| Conductive Heat Transfer | -2 to 2 |
| Convective Heat Transfer (gases) | -1 to 0 |
| Convective Heat Transfer (liquids) | -1 to 1 |
| EM Waves | Inverse square |
|---|---|
| Gamma Rays | Inverse square |
| X-Rays | Inverse square |
| Ultraviolet (UV) Waves | Inverse square |
| Visible Light Waves | Inverse square |
| Infrared Waves | Inverse square |
| Microwaves | Inverse square |
| Radio Waves | Inverse square |
| Sound Waves (in air) | Exponential |
| Sound Waves (in water) | Exponential |
| Seismic Waves (P-waves) | Exponential |
| Seismic Waves (S-waves) | Exponential |
| Gravity Waves | Inverse square |
| Surface Water Waves | Exponential |
| Capillary Waves | Exponential |
| Conductive Heat Transfer | Exponential |
| Convective Heat Transfer (gases) | Exponential |
| Convective Heat Transfer (liquids) | Exponential |