Final answer:
Particles of a medium oscillate around an equilibrium position as a transverse wave passes through, transferring energy without permanent displacement. When waves enter a new medium, they undergo refraction, changing their path and speed. Mechanical waves interact with boundaries and other waves through reflection, transmission, and interference.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a progressive wave passes through a medium, the particles of the medium generally move in a pattern at right angles to the direction of wave propagation. This type of wave is called a transverse wave. In a transverse wave, particles oscillate up and down or back and forth around an equilibrium position without being permanently displaced, though the wave itself moves through the medium carrying energy. When a wave enters a different medium, such as light passing from air into water, the wave can experience refraction. This changes its path, speed, and wavelength due to the different properties of the new medium like density and depth.
Basic mechanical waves require a medium to propagate and are subject to Newton's laws. Mechanical waves, including water waves, sound waves, and seismic waves, transfer energy and momentum through the medium's elastic restoring force, without transferring mass. If a wave encounters a boundary, it can be reflected or transmitted, depending on the boundary conditions, and can also interfere with other waves in the medium.