What do mechanical waves do?

Mechanical waves are disturbances that travel through a medium (such as air, water, or a solid material) and are capable of transferring energy. This transfer of energy occurs without the permanent displacement of the medium itself; instead, the particles of the medium oscillate around their initial positions as the wave propagates through it. For example, when sound waves travel through the air, they cause the air molecules to vibrate, thus enabling energy to move from one location to another, resulting in the sensation of sound.

The other choices refer to biological or chemical processes that do not involve wave mechanics. Breaking down food into nutrients is related to digestion, controlling bodily functions involves regulatory systems within living organisms, and absorbing oxygen pertains to respiratory processes. None of these options accurately capture the behavior or purpose of mechanical waves, which uniquely focus on the transfer of energy.