Brody and Ethel are arguing about waves. Brody says that waving his hand back and forth is a scientific wave. Ethel says that it is not. Which statement best describes who is correct?

Question

Brody is correct because the wave involves an input of energy.
Ethel is correct because energy is not carried from one place to another.
Brody is correct because the pattern repeats.
Ethel is correct because the motion has no pattern.

Answer 1

The best statement to describe who is correct is:

Brody is correct because the wave involves an input of energy.

When Brody waves his hand back and forth, he is indeed creating a disturbance that involves energy being transferred. This motion can be considered as a wave in a broader sense, even though it is not a mechanical wave like sound or water waves. Thus, Brody's assertion has merit in that it reflects the concept of energy input related to waves.