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Related Concept Videos

Shock Waves01:16

Shock Waves

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While deriving the Doppler formula for the observed frequency of a sound wave, it is assumed that the speed of sound in the medium is greater than the source's speed through it. When this condition is breached, a shock wave occurs.
When the source's speed approaches the speed of sound, constructive interference between successive wavefronts emitted by the source occurs immediately behind it. Initially, scientists believed that this constructive interference would result in such high...
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Sound Waves01:01

Sound Waves

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Sound waves can be thought of as fluctuations in the pressure of a medium through which they propagate. Since the pressure also makes the medium's particles vibrate along its direction of motion, the waves can be modeled as the displacement of the medium's particles from their mean position.
Sound waves are longitudinal in most fluids because fluids cannot sustain any lateral pressure. In solids, however, shear forces help in propagating the disturbance in the lateral direction as well....
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Travelling Waves01:04

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A wave is a disturbance that propagates from its source, repeating itself periodically, and is typically associated with simple harmonic motion. Mechanical waves are governed by Newton's laws and require a medium to travel. A medium is a substance in which a mechanical wave propagates, and the medium produces an elastic restoring force when it is deformed.
Water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves are some examples of mechanical waves. For water waves, the wave propagation medium is...
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Standing Waves01:17

Standing Waves

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Sometimes waves do not seem to move; rather, they just vibrate in place. Unmoving waves can be seen on the surface of a glass of milk kept in a refrigerator, which is one example of standing waves. Vibrations from the refrigerator motor create waves on the milk that oscillate up and down but do not seem to move across the surface. These waves are formed or created by the superposition of two or more identical moving waves in opposite directions. The waves move through each other, with their...
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Perception of Sound Waves01:01

Perception of Sound Waves

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The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
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Kinetic and Potential Energy of a Wave01:10

Kinetic and Potential Energy of a Wave

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All forms of waves carry energy; this is directly visualized in nature. For instance, the waves of earthquakes are so intense that they can shake huge concrete buildings, causing them to fall. Loud sounds can damage nerve cells in the inner ear, causing permanent hearing loss. The waves of the oceans can erode beaches. 
In mechanical waves, the amount of energy is related to their amplitude and frequency. In the context of the above examples, large-amplitude earthquakes produce large...
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Shock Wave Application to Cell Cultures
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The Basic Physics of Waves, Soundwaves, and Shockwaves for Erectile Dysfunction.

Jonathan Elliott Katz1, Raul Ivan Clavijo2, Paul Rizk1

  • 1Department of Urology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.

Sexual Medicine Reviews
|November 19, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) uses physics principles to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Understanding shockwave generators is crucial for effective Li-ESWT device selection and application in ED treatment.

Keywords:
Erectile DysfunctionExtracorporeal Shockwave TherapyLow-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (Li-ESWT)

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Medical Physics

Background:

  • Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) has gained attention as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED).
  • Understanding the physics of shockwave generators is essential for differentiating between devices used for ED treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the fundamental physics of shockwaves, including soundwave propagation.
  • To describe various shockwave generators and assess their clinical utility for ED.
  • To provide a framework for comprehending subtypes and adjustable parameters of shockwave devices.

Main Methods:

  • Review of basic wave propagation principles.
  • Analysis of randomized controlled trials on Li-ESWT for ED and other conditions.
  • Examination of industry websites for shockwave generator details.

Main Results:

  • Shockwaves are generated faster than the speed of sound, converting electrical energy into mechanical energy via electrohydraulic, electromagnetic, or piezoelectric sources.
  • Radial pressure waves differ from conventional shockwaves, exhibiting lower peak pressure and slower propagation without a focal point.
  • Three primary energy sources (electrohydraulic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric) generate shockwaves.

Conclusions:

  • Physicians should grasp the underlying physics of Li-ESWT devices to understand differences and select appropriate treatment protocols for ED.
  • Li-ESWT is investigational in the US, necessitating a thorough understanding of its physics for clinical application.
  • This review comprehensively covers the physics of Li-ESWT, with limited exploration of biological effects.