Do mechanical waves require a medium to travel through?

Mechanical waves indeed require a medium to travel through. This is a fundamental characteristic of mechanical waves, which include sound waves, water waves, and seismic waves among others. Mechanical waves propagate through the vibration of particles in a medium—such as air, water, or solids.

For instance, when a sound wave travels through air, the air molecules vibrate and transfer energy between one another, allowing the sound to move through the air. Without a medium, there are no particles to facilitate this transfer of energy, and thus the mechanical wave cannot propagate.

In contrast, some types of waves, such as electromagnetic waves (which include radio waves, light waves, and X-rays), do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum. This distinction underscores the specific requirements of mechanical waves in comparison to other wave types.

Therefore, the statement that mechanical waves do not require a medium is incorrect, as their very nature depends on the existence of a medium for propagation.