Mechanical Waves are waves which propagate through a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) at a wave speed which depends on the elastic and inertial properties of that medium. There are two basic types of wave motion for mechanical waves: longitudinal waves and transverse waves. The animations below demonstrate both types of wave and illustrate the difference between the motion of the wave and the motion of the particles in the medium through which the wave is travelling.
If the temperature of the air is said to be at absolute zero, one might conclude that a. the molecules contain a minimum amount of energy. b. the motion of the molecules is at a maximum. c. the molecules are occupying a large volume. the molecules contain a minimum amount of energy.
Stability with respect to vertical air motions depends on the temperature distribution in the atmosphereâthat is, on what may be called the stratification of the atmosphere. When air rises, it cools in accordance with a definite law. Dry or unsaturated air cools at the greatest rate: almost 1Â° per 100 m of ascent.he distribution of air temperature with respect to height. This distribution is characterized by the vertical temperature gradient Î³, which is expressed in degrees per 100 m.