No, mechanical waves cannot move through a vacuum. Mechanical waves require a medium, such as air, water, or solids, to propagate. This is because they need particles to transfer energy and momentum. In a vacuum, there are no particles present to facilitate this transfer, which means that mechanical waves, like sound waves, cannot travel.
For example, when you speak, your vocal cords create vibrations in the air, which then move through the air particles to reach someone’s ears. If you were in a vacuum, there wouldn’t be any air particles to carry those vibrations, and thus, the sound would not be heard. In contrast, electromagnetic waves, such as light, do not require a medium and can travel through a vacuum. This fundamental difference illustrates the distinct nature of mechanical waves compared to other forms of wave propagation.