Here's why:
* Mechanical waves require a medium to travel. This means they need particles (like air molecules, water molecules, or the molecules of a solid) to vibrate and transmit the wave energy. Examples include sound waves and water waves.
* Electromagnetic waves are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields. They can travel through a vacuum (like space) because they don't need a medium to propagate. Examples include light waves, radio waves, microwaves, and X-rays.
Let me know if you have any other questions!