Shock wave
Shock wave
A Shock wave (pronounced: /ʃɒk weɪv/) is a type of propagating disturbance. When a wave moves faster than the local speed of sound in a fluid, it is a shock wave. In medicine, shock waves are used in a variety of treatments, including lithotripsy, a procedure that breaks down kidney stones.
Etymology
The term "shock wave" originates from the sudden and violent nature of the phenomena it describes. The word "shock" comes from the Middle French choc, which means "violent attack," while "wave" comes from the Old English wafian, meaning "to wave."
Related Terms
- Lithotripsy: A medical procedure that uses shock waves to break down stones in the kidney, bladder, or ureter.
- Kidney stone: A hard deposit of minerals and salts that forms inside the kidneys.
- Sound wave: A wave of compression and rarefaction, by which sound is propagated in an elastic medium such as air.
- Fluid dynamics: A sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the science of liquids and gases in motion.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Shock wave
- Wikipedia's article - Shock wave
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