The true statement about electromagnetic and mechanical waves is:
Electromagnetic waves can travel without a medium, but mechanical waves require a medium to travel.
This accurately describes the fundamental difference between the two types of waves. Electromagnetic waves, such as light, can propagate through a vacuum, while mechanical waves, such as sound, need a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to travel through.
The other statements are incorrect:
- Electromagnetic waves do not all have the same frequency; they cover a broad spectrum with varying frequencies and wavelengths.
- While electromagnetic waves are typically transverse, mechanical waves can be either transverse (like waves on a string) or longitudinal (like sound waves); therefore, it is not universally true that mechanical waves are longitudinal.
- Electromagnetic waves, such as light, generally travel faster than mechanical waves (like sound in air).
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