A mechanical wave is a wave that requires a medium to travel through because it relies on the transfer of energy through the vibration or oscillation of particles in the medium. Unlike electromagnetic waves, such as light or radio waves, which can travel through a vacuum, mechanical waves need a physical substance, such as air, water, or solid material, to propagate. This is because the particles in the medium are disturbed by the wave's energy and transmit it to neighboring particles, causing a chain reaction that allows the wave to travel.