Definition of accelerate. accelerated. ; accelerating. intransitive verb. 1 : to move faster : to gain speed The car slowly accelerated. The pace of change has accelerated in recent months. 2 : to progress from grade to grade more rapidly than usual : to follow a speded-up educational program. transitive verb.
A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a medium. While waves can move over long distances, the movement of the medium of transmission âthe materialâis limited.Therefore, oscillating material does not move far from its initial equilibrium position.his energy propagates in the same direction as the wave. Any kind of wave (mechanical or electromagnetic) has a certain energy. Mechanical waves can be produced only in media which possess elasticity and inertia. A mechanical wave requires an initial energy input.
Earth is the medium for earthquake waves. Waves that can travel only through a medium are called mechanical waves. Most waves, including water waves, sound waves, and earthquake waves, are mechanical waves. Electromagnetic waves are the most common kind of nonmechanical waves. READING TOOLBOX Compare After you read this section, make a chart comparing transverse and longitudinal waves.