A mechanical wave is a type of wave that is caused by a disturbance or vibration in a medium, such as a solid, liquid, or gas. These waves require a medium to travel through, as opposed to electromagnetic waves which can travel through a vacuum. Mechanical waves can be transverse or longitudinal in nature, depending on the direction of the vibration compared to the direction of the wave propagation. Examples of mechanical waves include sound waves and seismic waves.
