Which statement is true for electromagnetic and mechanical waves?

Question

options:

Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, but electromagnetic waves do not need a medium.
Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, but electromagnetic waves do not need a medium.

Mechanical waves sometimes travel through a vacuum, and electromagnetic waves sometimes travel through matter.
Mechanical waves sometimes travel through a vacuum, and electromagnetic waves sometimes travel through matter.

Electromagnetic waves travel mainly through matter, and mechanical waves travel only through a vacuum.
Electromagnetic waves travel mainly through matter, and mechanical waves travel only through a vacuum.

Electromagnetic waves require a medium to travel, but mechanical waves do not need a medium.

Answer 1

The true statement is:

Mechanical waves require a medium to travel through, but electromagnetic waves do not need a medium.

Mechanical waves, such as sound waves and water waves, need a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate, whereas electromagnetic waves (like light, radio waves, and X-rays) can travel through a vacuum as well as through various media.